Patriarch Bartholomeos

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The Orthodox Christian News Service

Published by Anadolu Agency, December 7, 2003

Patriarch Bartholomeos Conducts Religious Ceremony in Saint Nicholas Church

ANTALYA - Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos I said on Saturday that hundreds of people from the United States, Greece, Austria and Switzerland came to the religious ceremony held in Saint Nicholas Church in Demre town of southern Antalya province despite recent terrorist attacks in Istanbul.

Besides Bartholomeos I, Demre Metropolitan Hrisostomos Kalayci, Austrian Metropolitan Mikhail, Mytilini Metropolitan Iak Ovos, and Patara Episkopalian Irineos attended the religious ceremony.

Forty people from the United States, 100 from Greece, 5 from Germany and 250 from other countries participated in the religious ceremony.

Speaking in the religious ceremony, Bartholomeos I said that tolerance was an ongoing tradition in Anatolia for centuries.

''As people who are monotheists, we are living on same lands. We thank state authorities who have showed necessary interest in us to organize these religious ceremonies. Hundreds of people came to this ceremony from the United States, Greece, Austria and Switzerland despite terrorism. I wish peace, tranquility and brotherly living to our country and whole humanity,'' Bartholomeos added.

(BRC-AY) 06.12.2003