LIMNOS – In a solemn ceremony the Metropolis of the islands of Limnos and Agios Eftrsatios, the people welcomed their new Metropolitan Ierotheos, who was enthroned at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Myrina.

Archbishop Ierotheos of Athens and All Greece officiated at the enthronement ceremony assisted by dozens of hierarchs of the Church of Greece and all the priests of the Metropolis of Limnos and Agios Efstratios. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was represented by Metropolitan Iosif of Proikonisos. It should be noted here that the Metropolis of Limnos and Agios Efstratios belongs to the Metropolises of the New Lands (Νέων Χωρών) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Deputy Foreign Minister Antonis Diamataris, who comes from the village Thanos of the island of Limnos, who represented Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Greek government, welcomed the new Metropolitan with a very warm and emotional speech.

Deputy Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Charalampos Athanasiou who comes from the village Agia Paraskevi of the nearby island of Lesvos, also addressed the new Metropolitan.

Metropolitan Iakovos of Mytilini, who served as locum tenens of the Metropolis of Limnos, praised the election of Metropolitan Ierotheos and wished him a fruitful archpastorship.

The new Metropolitan sent a message of cooperation and creativity to the clergy and faithful of the islands of Limnos and Agios Efstratios.

His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Mytilini Locum Tenens of the Metropolis of Limnos and Agios Efstratios. (Photo by Eurokinissi/Christos Mponis)

He expressed his respect to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, “our Mother Church” as he said, to Archbishop Ieronymos, for the confidence they have in him and to the hierarchs who honored him by voting for him and attending his enthronement. Metropolitan Ierotheos also thanked many clergymen from his homeland of Spetses and Hydra, and from Ilion, Kifisia, and Markopoulo, where he served in previous years.

Metropolitan Ierotheos of Limnos spoke about the environment and the need for its protection as well as the importance of the geographical location of his Metropolis between Constantinople and Mount Athos. “Our places deserve much, and not by chance,” he said and praised the strength and courage of both the inhabitants of the islands of Limnos and Agios Efstratios and those who live abroad and continue to flourish.

He stressed that he would make efforts to promote the cultural heritage of the island.