Έφεσος: Διαχριστιανική Συνάντηση στην Πρωτοχριστιανική Βασιλική Αγ. Ιωάννου του Θεολόγου

Διαχριστιανικὴ Συνάντησις πρὸς τιμὴν τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἰωάννου τοῦ Θεολόγου καὶ Εὐαγγελιστοῦ, ἐπ’ εὐκαιρίᾳ τῆς ἑορτῆς αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὸ Ὀρθόδοξον Ἑορτολόγιον, ἐπραγματοποιήθη τὸ ἑσπέρας τοῦ Σαββάτου, 2ας Μαΐου ἐ.ἔ., ἐν τῇ Πρωτοχριστιανικῇ Βασιλικῇ τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἰωάννου τοῦ Θεολόγου καὶ Εὐαγγελιστοῦ, ἔνθα καὶ ὁ τάφος αὐτοῦ.

Ἡ συνάντησις διωργανώθη ὑπὸ τῆς Ρωμαιοκαθολικῆς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Σμύρνης, καὶ περιελάμβανε τὴν τέλεσιν Ὀρθοδόξου Ἑσπερινοῦ, τοῦ Μ. Ἑσπερινοῦ τοῦ Σαββάτου, χοροστατοῦντος τοῦ Σεβ. Μητροπολίτου Σμύρνης κ. Βαρθολομαίου. Μετὰ τὴν ἀπόλυσιν αὐτοῦ ὁ Ρωμαιοκαθολικὸς Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Σμύρνης Σεβ. κ. Martin Kmetec, συμπαραστατούμενος ὑπὸ κληρικῶν αὐτοῦ, ἐτέλεσε Λειτουργίαν, καθ’ ἣν ὡμίλησε καταλλήλως. Εἰς τὴν ἐκδήλωσιν παρέστησαν Ὀρθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί, συνοδεύοντες τὸν Ποιμενάρχην των, Καθολικοὶ καὶ Ἀγγλικανοί, ὑπὸ τὸν Αἰδεσιμολ. Κάνονα κ. James Buxton, Προϊστάμενον τῆς ἐν Σμύρνῃ Ἀγγλικανικῆς Κοινότητος, ὡς καὶ ὅμιλος Ἀγγλικανῶν ἐκ Λονδίνου, ὑπὸ τὸν ἐφησυχάζοντα Ἐπίσκοπον τῆς Ἐκκλησίας τῆς Ἀγγλίας πρ. St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Θεοφιλ. κ. Martin Seely.

Ὁ Μητροπολίτης Σμύρνης ἐχαιρέτισε διὰ συντόμου προσλαλιᾶς, τουρκιστὶ καὶ ἀγγλιστί.

Your Excellency, Archbishop Martin Kmetec,

Reverend Canon James Buxton,

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It is with sincere joy that we gather today in this holy and historic place, the Basilica of Saint John the Theologian in Ephesus, a land sanctified by the preaching, witness, and prayer of the beloved disciple of the Lord.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude in a special way to His Excellency Archbishop Martin Kmetec for his initiative and care in organizing this meaningful gathering. I also extend my sincere thanks to our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, and to all those who have contributed to this beautiful evening of fraternity and Christian friendship. I would also like to greet with joy the Anglican Community of Smyrna, as well as the Anglican pilgrims and visitors from Great Britain, who are with us this evening.

Saint John the Theologian is loved and honored by all Christians. Through his Gospel and his words, he continues to remind us of the central message of our faith: “God is love.” In a world often wounded by division and conflict, our presence here together is a humble but meaningful witness to dialogue, mutual respect, and peace. May the blessing and intercessions of Saint John be with all of us, and may they guide all Christians ever closer to Christ, who is the source of truth, love, and unity.

 

Ekselansları Başepiskopos Martin Kmetec,

Muhterem Canon James Buxton,

Mesih’te sevgili kardeşlerim,

Bugün burada, Efes’teki Aziz Yuhanna İlahiyatçı Bazilikası’nda bir araya gelmekten büyük bir sevinç duyuyoruz. Bu anlamlı buluşmanın düzenlenmesi için özellikle Ekselansları Başepiskopos Martin Kmetec’e, gösterdiği özen ve emeklerinden dolayı içten teşekkürlerimi sunuyorum. Ayrıca Roma Katolik kardeşlerimize ve bu güzel kardeşlik ve Hristiyan dostluğu akşamına katkıda bulunan herkese samimi şükranlarımı ifade ediyorum. Bugün aramızda bulunan İzmir Anglikan Topluluğu’nu ve Büyük Britanya’dan gelen Anglikan hacı ve ziyaretçileri de sevinçle selamlıyorum. Aziz Yuhanna, bütün Hristiyanlar tarafından sevilen ve saygı duyulan ortak bir azizdir. Onun bize bıraktığı en büyük mesajlardan biri şudur: “Tanrı sevgidir.” Bugünkü birlikteliğimiz de karşılıklı saygının, kardeşliğin ve barışın güzel bir işaretidir.

Aziz Yuhanna’nın duaları hepimizle olsun.