Patriarch Bartholomew presented his exarch in Lithuania

On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople paid an official visit to Lithuania, marking an important milestone in the life of the local Orthodox community. During the festive Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius, the Patriarch officially introduced to the faithful the Phanar’s new Exarch in Lithuania—Bishop Panaretos of Tamis.

According to the Greek publication Φως Φαναρίου, the service was attended by high-ranking guests, including the Catholic Archbishop of Vilnius, Gintaras Grušas, Apostolic Nuncio Georg Genswein, as well as the ambassadors of Greece, Romania, and Moldova, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy. In his sermon, Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized that the Phanar has borne witness to the truth for centuries, despite historical trials, and continues to care for Orthodox believers throughout the world.

The Patriarch devoted special attention in his address to the mission of the new exarch. Bishop Panaret, who has served in Constantinople for a long time, possesses a deep knowledge of Russian and Church Slavonic. According to Patriarch Bartholomew, this makes him a “bridge of consolation” for the multilingual flock of the Baltic countries. The Patriarch noted that “the Mother Church is called not to domination, but to sacrificial service and the healing of wounded souls.”

In his response, Bishop Panaret thanked the head of the Phanar for his trust and emphasized that the establishment of the Exarchate provides a spiritual home for all Orthodox residents of Lithuania—Lithuanians, Greeks, Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. He assured that his ministry would be directed toward building unity and overcoming nationalist divisions in the spirit of evangelical love.