"But it's 'ecumenical'!": The Phanar has requested permission from the Turkish authorities to hold divine services in historic monasteries

The Patriarchate of Constantinople has officially confirmed that it has received permission from the Turkish authorities to hold Divine Liturgies at two historic monasteries of significance to Orthodoxy. According to Zivot Crkve, the solemn services will take place on August 23, 2026, on the day of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God.

According to the information received, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will personally preside over the Divine Liturgy in the ruins of the Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos Faneromeni, located in Artaki (Kizik region). This event is of special significance both for the Orthodox community and for the preservation of the region’s cultural heritage.

At the same time, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the famous Pontic Monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God of Sumela, near Trabzon. The tradition of holding divine services at this historic site continues to grow stronger, offering the faithful the opportunity to prayerfully celebrate this significant Christian feast day in places with a centuries-old history of pilgrimage.

As a reminder, we recently reported that, for the second year in a row, Turkish authorities did not permit the Divine Liturgy to be held on August 15 at the Panagia Sumela Monastery in Trabzon, which disrupted the traditional celebration of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God. The ban affected one of the main pilgrimage sites for Pontic Greeks and Orthodox Christians worldwide.