CONSTANTINOPLE – Metropolitan Evangelos of Sardis – formerly Metropolitan of New Jersey in the Archdiocese of America – traveled to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople where on Saturday Number 21 he participated in the Small Minima ceremony before His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and members of the hierarchy followed by the Mega Minima at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George at the Phanar, accepting officially his election to the Metropolis of Sardis in Asia Minor.  

It is reminded here that the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate presided by Hi All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in its meeting of Thursday October 8 removed Metropolitan Evangelos form the Metropolis of New Jersey where he served for almost seventeen years and transferred him by election to the Metropolis of Sardis. In the same Synodic meeting the Holy Synod imposed the penance of Suspension from all Liturgical Services on Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, including of course the Eucharist, Vespers, and Sacraments not only in the Metropolis of Boston but in the entire Archdiocese of America and all the Orthodox Churches in the World.

On Saturday, November 21, Metropolitan Evangelos of Sardis took part of the Divine Liturgy officiated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the Great Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple at the Presentation of Virgin Mary Cathedral in Pera, Constantinople. Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imvros and Tenedos concelebrated.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch ordained the deacon of the community, Nikodimos Saidam, to the rank of priest, and Alex Torrance, Professor of the University of Notre Dame, to the Holy Diaconate.

The Ecumenical Patriarch in his homily sent his wishes to Archbishops Ieronymos of Athens and Anastasios of Albania for a speedy recovery, who have were admitted to the Evangelismos Hospital in Athens after having tested positive for COVID-19. He also made reference to the death of Patriarch Irinej of Serbia.

On Sunday November 22 Patriarch Bartholomew assigned Evangelos to officiate during the Divine Liturgy at St. George Church at the Phanar while his All Holiness was in the Holy Altar. After the Liturgy he granted an audience to Metropolitan Evangelos during which they discussed ecclesiastical issues.