On Sunday, January 14, in the Cathedral of Madrid, the church of St. Ap. Andrew the First-Called and St. military Dimitry, a divine liturgy was held, during which the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine, His Eminence Bishop Michael of Koman, co-served with His Eminence Metropolitan Bessarion of Spain and Portugal.
This is reported by the Stauropegium of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine.
This important moment united representatives of different communities – Greeks, Spaniards, Ukrainians, and Bulgarians, who gathered to take part in the festive service. Presbyter Apostolos Tsandos of the Metropolis of Dimitriada (Greece) and Protopresbyter Ihor Kmetyk prayed together with the bishops.
The Liturgy marked the beginning of the working trip of Bishop Michael of Koman to Spain.
Bishop Michael presented the new edition of the Apostle-aprakos to Metropolitan Bessarion and handed over copies of this book for liturgical use by the Ukrainian parishes of the metropolis. Also, the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine congratulated Metropolitan Bessarion on the third anniversary of his election by the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Chair of Spain and Portugal Sacra Metrópolis Ortodoxa de España y Portugal – Patriarcado Ecuménico.
In the light of future publishing projects, it is planned to hold working meetings with Metropolitan Bessarion for consultations and clarifying the liturgical features of the liturgical charter of the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Constantinople. In view of the past experience of the service of Bishop Metropolitan Bessarion as the Great Archimandrite of the Great Church of Christ, he has a deep understanding of the liturgical tradition of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a detailed knowledge of which will contribute to fruitful work on further initiatives of the Stauropegium of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine in translating liturgical literature.
Meetings with representatives of the clergy and the Ukrainian diaspora are scheduled as part of Bishop Michael’s working trip. Bishop Michael, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Bessarion of Spain and Portugal, will be briefed about the activities of Ukrainian parishes in Spain.
It is also important to note that the Aprakos Apostle, which Bishop Michael handed over to Bishop Bessarion, was issued with the financial support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (Ecumenical Patriarchate).
This is another example of cooperation and support between Ukrainian Orthodox communities and the hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in different countries.
