Reception of Metropolitan of Thessaly & Phanarifersala, Mr. Timotheos, at the Vatopedi Monastery

With due honors and according to the Athonite ritual, the reception of the Metropolitan of Thessaly and Phanariofarsala, Mr. Timotheos, at the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi took place. The Metropolitan of Thessaly and Phanariofarsala, Mr. Timotheos, arrived today at the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, where he was warmly welcomed by the Abbot Elder Ephraim and the Brotherhood of the Monastery. The reception took place at the entrance of the Monastery and according to the established Athonite order. A procession followed to the Catholicos, where a Doxology was celebrated upon the reception of His Eminence.

The Abbot of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Elder Ephraim, delivered a heartfelt welcome speech to Metropolitan Timotheus, expressing the joy of the Vatopedi Brotherhood for his presence in the Athonite State. Responding to Elder Ephraim’s address, His Eminence Metropolitan Timotheus warmly thanked the Abbot and the Brotherhood for the invitation and the particularly honorable reception. His Eminence is accompanied by a delegation of the political and self-administrative leadership of his metropolitan region, consisting of members of parliament, deputy governors, mayors and municipal councilors.

His Eminence's presence on Mount Athos is taking place at the invitation of the Abbot of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Elder Ephraim, where he will preside over the Holy Services that will be held at the Monastery on the feast of the Holy Belt. The Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, which guards the Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary as a precious treasure, is expected to welcome a multitude of pilgrims in the coming days, who will come to honor the great feast of the Mother of God and to venerate the holy relic.