In an atmosphere of devotion and emotion, but with few pilgrims, the divine service for the feast of the “Nine Days of the Virgin Mary” took place in the historic Monastery of Panagia Sumela of Trabzon, Trabzon. This year the Turkish authorities did not permit a Mass on August 15, but on August 23.

The Ecumenical Patriarch was not present at the divine service; instead, the Metropolitan of Kallioupolis and Madytos presided. This year, the faithful who received permission to attend the Divine Liturgy were fewer than ever before, not more than 100, mostly from Greece and Georgia. In previous years, more than 1,000 pilgrims usually came to Trabzon.

Security measures were strict, vehicles were banned from entering the monastery from 08.00 in the morning, while only visitors with special permission were allowed to go to Panagia Soumela.

In his speech, Metropolitan Stephen stressed that prayers are also for peace and solidarity around the world and thanked the Minister of Culture and Tourism, the Prefect of Trabzon, and the mayor of Trabzon for their help.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is in his hometown of Imbros, presided at the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in his village of Agioi Theodoroi.

In previous days, nationalist circles in Turkey had launched a media and social media campaign against the celebration of the Mass and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

On Wednesday, retired Rear Admiral Jihad Yajji, one of the initiators of the Blue Homeland, traveled to Trabzon, where he made statements in the hall of the local editors’ association. During his statements, which lasted more than an hour and a half, he called the Ecumenical Patriarch a “black priest”, accused him of violating the Lausanne Treaty and of illegally using the title of Ecumenical Patriarch, and called on the people of Trabzon to prevent this ceremony.” On Yayiji’s side was Nationalist Action Party (NAP) MP, Arzu Erdem. In the same vein as yesterday’s post on Platform X by the “other” of the “theorists” of the Blue Patriarchate, also retired Rear Admiral Cem Gyurdeniz, who also rejected the ecumenical character of the Patriarchate and accused it of its attitude towards the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.