Following a decision by Turkish authorities, permission for the Divine Liturgy at Panagia Soumela was granted this year for Friday, August 23, on the feast day of the Nine Days of the Virgin Mary, rather than on August 15, the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, as had been the case in recent years.

The Divine Liturgy for the Commemoration of the Dormition of the Theotokos will be led by Metropolitan Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, according to the announcement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will be in his birthplace, Imbros, on August 15.