At the liturgy in Istanbul, the Patriarch of Constantinople did not say a word about the milestone anniversary for Greece - the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire.
On March 25, 2021, Greece celebrates Independence Day and the 200th anniversary of the national liberation revolution of 1821, when the Greek people rose up against the yoke of the Ottoman Empire that had lasted for four centuries. But Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who celebrated a mass in Istanbul on this day, kept silent about the event and caused indignation in the Greek media.
For example, the Greek news agency Pentapostagma agreed that the Constantinople Patriarchate has a "very difficult situation" with its headquarters in Turkey, but stressed that "more was expected from Mr. Bartholomew on this momentous day for Greeks.
"Unfortunately, during today's celebration of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Ecumenical Patriarchate consecrated a bishop and a presbyter, but did not mention our national holiday or the 200th anniversary of the 1821 revolution," the Greek resource stated.
As a reminder, on March 25, 2021, Greece celebrates 200 years since the beginning of the national liberation revolution against the four-century yoke of the Ottoman Empire. The struggle of the Greek people for independence, which began on March 25, 1821 - the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, lasted almost 10 years.
Patriarch Bartholomew, who is silent today about this event, has previously stated that the "ideals, values, glory, passions and martyrdom" of the Greek nation stem from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Source: spzh.ru (Russian)