Pope Leo commemorated before Patriarch Bartholomew during moleben at Phanar

The Pontiff and Patriarch Bartholomew bless the flock. Photo: Vatican News

On 29 November 2025, in the Church of Saint George at the Phanar, a doxology (a thanksgiving moleben) was held with the participation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Roman Catholic Pope Leo. During the service, a special petition for the health of both church leaders was pronounced, with the name of the pontiff, introduced with the title “Most Holy,” being mentioned first.

During the Great Litany, the deacon pronounced the following petition:

“Again we pray for the Most Holy Bishop and Pope Leo, and for our Archbishop and Patriarch Bartholomew, and that He may direct their steps toward every good work.” After this, the choir thrice sang: “Lord, have mercy.”

At that moment, Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew were standing on the solea on either side of the Royal Doors.

At the conclusion of the service, the choir sang the Polychronion both for Patriarch Bartholomew and for Pope Leo: “O Lord, preserve for many years our Most Holy Pope Leo… O Lord our God, [preserve] our All-Holy and Most Blessed Patriarch Bartholomew, the Ecumenical.”

Present at the event were Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, hierarchs of the Church of Constantinople and the Roman Church, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas. During the doxology, the Pope and the Patriarch recited the “Our Father” in Latin, and then simultaneously blessed the faithful while standing at the Royal Doors.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Bartholomew and the Pope signed a declaration on the path toward full communion.

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