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Ecumenical Patriarch: "Mount Athos occupies a unique position within Orthodox Monasticism"translated

August 10, 2026 · 1 min read

A.Th. Panagiotis, the Ecumenical Patriarch etc. Bartholomew officiated, yesterday, Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the Divine Liturgy held in the Metochio of the I. Monastery of Agios Panteleimonos of Mount Athos, in Galata of the City, for the feast of the memory of Agios Panteleimonos of Iamatikos during the Julian calendar. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Panosiol. M. Archimandrite Mr. Iakovos, with the participation of Panosiol. Triteyonto Mr. Epiphaniou, and a large number of Russian-speaking believers attended the church.

In his speech, His Holiness expressed his joy at being in Metochi of Agios Panteleimonos to celebrate with the Russian-speaking Community of the City, while he made special reference to the important role that monasticism has in the life of our Church. "Mount Athos occupies a unique position within Orthodox Monasticism," said His Holiness, who characterized it as an ornament to the Miter of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

"We are proud because Mount Athos belongs to the spiritual jurisdiction and affection of the Mother Church of Constantinople. It is a place of prayer and peaceful, fraternal coexistence, where Greeks, Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, all live together as real brothers...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Helen Bennett

It was nice to read that the Patriarch served at the St. Panteleimon metochion right here in the city with so many Russian-speaking faithful. I especially liked how he called the Holy Mountain the jewel in the Ecumenical Patriarch's miter. Our little garden club is planning a trip to one of the Russian monasteries in a few months, so this felt timely.

Ilie Ionescu

Yes, I also read with joy that he served at the church of Saint Pantelimon in Galata, right in the city, with so many Russian-speaking believers. I remembered what he said about Mount Athos - that it is like a jewel in the miter of the Ecumenical Patriarch and that Greeks, Russians, Serbians, Bulgarians and Romanians live together there like true brothers. In our parish, we often pray for that peace in the monasteries.