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This morning, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited Arlington National Cemetery, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after viewing the solemn, highly-ceremonial guard change.
His All-Holiness was escorted by General Andrew Poppas, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces Command, and Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director of Arlington National Cemetery. Following the wreath’s presentation, a bugler sounded “Taps.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch was also hosted today by both His Excellency Sedat Önal, Ambassador of Türkiye to the U.S., and Her Excellency Ekaterini Nassika, Ambassador of Greece to the U.S., at respective meals. At the latter event, hosted at Dumbarton Oaks, His All-Holiness spoke eloquently about the importance of the Greek language and the connection between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Hellenic heritage.
“The Ecumenical Patriarchate, the first throne of Orthodoxy, is a living and vital bearer of this precious heritage…It unites faith with culture, proclaiming the truth of Christ and the freedom of the human being,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Also present at Arlington National Cemetery were members of the Patriarchal delegation, including His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and Their Eminences Metropolitans Theodoritos of Laodicea and Maximos of Selyvria; many U.S. Metropolitans, including Their Eminences Metropolitans Savas of Pittsburgh, Gerasimos of San Francisco, Sevastianos of Atlanta, Apostolos of New Jersey, Nathanael of Chicago, Constantine of Denver; and Their Graces Bishops Athenagoras of Nazianzos and Nektarios of Diokleia; and members of the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight.
Photo by Archons/Orthodox Observer/J. Mindala
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