Opening of the doors and Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s in Izmir

On the 8th December, 2024 in the Church of St. Mary in Izmir, Turkey, Br. John Wong, General Delegate for the Guardianate of Istanbul, participated in the official Rite of the Opening of the Doors (Thyranoixia) and the Divine Liturgy in the presence of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna. The official delegation of the General Curia was also composed of Br. Nikola Kozina, Director of the Development Office, and Br. Saulo Duarte, Vice-Bursar General.

In his greeting message, Br. John emphasized how the celebration is an important visible sign of fraternal solidarity, a concrete expression of ecumenical fraternity and a powerful witness of Christian unity. In fact, he recalled when, during the visit in 2023 of the Minister General of the OFM, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, a ten-year agreement was signed together with His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople to share ownership of the Franciscan parish church of St. Mary in Izmir for the Divine Liturgies of the Orthodox Church. "An enduring symbol of our continued fraternal collaboration and practical ecumenism," commented Fr. John, who, as President of the General Commission for the Service of Dialogue, addressed the gratitude of the whole Order to the Patriarch "for his firm commitment to promoting dialogue and mutual understanding amongst Christians, as well as for his defense of religious tolerance amongst people of all faiths."

The General Delegate concluded his speech by emphasizing "the importance of unity, dialogue and collaboration in our witness to the Gospel," inviting all those present to "work together, in the spirit of love and peace, to build a world that reflects the compassion and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Read the full text of Br. John Wong's speech

© Photo: Nathalie Ritzmann