Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited Triglia Vithinias, the Suburb of Brusa in Asia Minor on July 2, 2009. His All Holiness was escorted by Metropolitan of Austria Michael, and Metropolitan Timotheos of Vostron from Jerusalem, The Consul General of Greece to Istanbul Nikolaos Sigalas, and many Orthodox Christians from Rafina and New Moudania and Triglia from Halkidiki, Greece. His All Holiness Officiated at the Liturgy which was conducted by Archimandrite Theodosios from the Holy Mountain assisted by the Deacons of The Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Mayors of Rafina,Andreas Kehagioglou and New Triglia Halkidiki Kostas Sgouros from Greece arrived for a three day stay to visit their former homeland where their forefathers once lived and prospered. Today some 2500 live in Triglia a small town on the outskirts of Brusa, Turkey. In 1923 with the exchange of population between Greece and Turkey there were no more Greek Orthodox living in the area. After the liturgy His All Holiness Officiated at a Memorial Service for all of those who lost their lives in the area and to remember the forefathers.
After the Memorial Service His All Holiness led the faithful through the town and visited the former Monastery and Cemetery remembering all of those who once lived in the area.
PHOTOS: Dimitrios Panagos
www.panagos.com
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