by Emilios Polygenis from London
In an atmosphere of majesty and special splendor, the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain, Nikitas, took place today, Saturday, July 27.
The enthronement ceremony took place in the historic Hagia Sophia Cathedral in London, in the presence of hierarchs and clergy.
The Greek Government was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister responsible for Greeks Abroad, Mr. Antonis H. Diamataris, while the High Commissioner Mr. Evripidis Evriviadis represented the Republic of Cyprus.
There also attended Leaders, Representatives of Communities, Associations and other Organizations.
In the enthronement, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was represented by Metropolitan of France, Emmanuel, who also addressed the new Archbishop of Thyateira.
In his speech, Emmanuel said that this day is crucial for the local Church but also for the personal progress of Nikitas, as he undertakes the spiritual responsibility of a faithful congregation, and becomes the successor of many honest men and preachers.
As Emmanuel adviced the new Archbishop, “May you become in your life a doctor and healer of souls. Through these two elements your work shall be pleasing to God”.
From his part, in his speech, the new Archbishop of Thyateira thanked Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who sent him to undertake the leadership of the Church of Great Britain and Ireland, assuring that he shall always remain loyal to the Phanar.
“I come to Great Britain in a time that the world is shaken by many inequalities and sufferings. For this reason, my priority is to cooperate all together, people and clergy, so as to hold the pilot light of Orthodoxy burning in Great Britain, and renew this light with a genuine and undistorted oil, i.e. the oil of Orthodox Faith”, stressed, inter alia, Archbishop Nikitas.
During his speech, the new Archbishop also addressed the Deputy Foreign Minister responsible for Greeks Abroad, Mr. Antonis H. Diamataris, as follows: “We may be expatriates, but our heart beats in Greek pulse, Greek blood runs in our veins”.
Finally, the Archbishop addressed the Representative of the Republic of Cyprus stressing the following: “Mr. Evriviadis, we shall always stand by your side, in the struggle of the suffering Cyprus to find a sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem”.
