Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew is carrying out a pilgrimage visit to the Cappadocia until Monday afternoon, accompanied by the Archbishop of Albania, Ioannis, in a visit aimed to highlight inter-Orthodox ties and regional religious heritage sites in central Turkey.
Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate / Nikos Papachristou
The two primates, along with their delegations, arrived at the Nevşehir Airport and were received by local authorities, including the governor of Nevşehir and the mayor of the city. His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his appreciation for the support provided by the regional government’s office-holders in organizing a series of religious services scheduled during the visit, including a joint liturgy at the historic Church of St. Theodore in Malakope (Derinkuyu), as well as an evening service at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Nevşehir. He also thanked officials for facilitating the arrival of pilgrims from Istanbul, Greece and other countries.
Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate / Nikos Papachristou
On Saturday the delegation visited the village of Cemil and the Church of the Holy Cross. The visit continued to Mustafapaşa (ancient Sinasos), where a reception was hosted in their honor at a historic local mansion.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with Nevşehir Mayor Rasim Ari. Ecumenical Patriarchate / Nikos Papachristou
Archbishop Ioannis of Albania, accompanied by Bishop Ignatios of Amantia, the secretary of the Holy Synod, and Archdeacon Ioannis, arrived in Istanbul on Thursday evening.
