2012-02-05
In the period between the 3th and the 5th of February, His Eminence visited the Antiochian parish of St. George in Berlin. He held some meetings on Friday and Saturday with the parish council and the parishioners. On Sunday, he presided over the Divine Liturgy assisted by His Grace bishop Hanna Haikal and the fathers Constantine, Radomire and Paul Altendagolo and the Deacons Yerasimos Kabbas and Sarkis Khouri. His Excellency. Mr. Ramez Demashkieh, the Lebanese ambassador and his family were present beside the Lebanese Consul Mr. Hadi Hashem. The Syrian Consul Mr. Jamal Najib and his family were present as a representative of the Syrian Ambassador.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan John wished a blessed service to the newly ordained bishop. He underlined the importance of having the auxiliary bishops in the Antiochian Church in general and especially in Europe. As an expression of his fraternal love to His Grace, he presented him with a gift (an Engolpion or pectoral icon.. His Eminence congratulated also the parish with the new bishop who had served it as a priest for many years.
Hs Grace bishop Hanna Haikal thanked His Eminence in his own ecclesiastical house. He thanked him for his trust in him when he proposed his name as an auxiliary bishop. He also thanked him for his lovely presence among the faithful of St. George despite his physical situation. And as an expression of his love, he presented him with the icon of the Virgin.
After the Liturgy, all the faithful participated in the Agape.
