Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine were declared honorary citizens during a special solemn ceremony held in front of the house of the Dimarchy (local administration) of the Nestos municipality in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
This was reported by the press service of the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (OCU).
This decision was announced by the head of the municipal council. The ceremony took place at noon on September 5, 2022, on the third day of the official visit of the Patriarch of the OCU to Greece.
The hierarchs and clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church of Greece and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, representatives of the central and local authorities, and local residents became the ceremony guests.
While announcing the decision, Dimarch (head of the municipality's administration) Savvas Mihailidis noted that the decision to recognize Metropolitan Epifaniy as an honorary citizen of Nestos is a sign of respect for the struggle and suffering of the Ukrainian people during the war and also emphasizes the historical significance of the first visit of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to Greece.
Metropolitan Epifaniy expressed his gratitude for the high honor shown to him and delivered a speech. The full text of his address in Ukrainian and Greek can be found here.
Also, in commemorating the event, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine presented the Dimarch with an icon of Christ the Savior.
After the celebrations, all participants arrived at the site of the foundation of the church in honor of St. Eugene of Trebizond, which is located at a cemetery. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew conducted the prayer and blessing.
After the consecration, the reigning bishop, Metropolitan Stephanos of Philippi, Naples and Thasos, addressed Metropolitan Epifaniy: "The Church of Ukraine is an example of hope and struggle for everyone, as it is a bridge between our countries and peoples. We all testify to our Christian unity, and your visit and your presence here confirm this."
The celebrations ended with the opening of a memorial sign in honor of Pontic Hellenism, with the monastery of Panagia Sumela as one of its symbols.