On Saturday, August 31, 2024, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew led the Great Vespers for the Feast of Indiction at the Cathedral of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in Pera.
Following the service, in the courtyard of the Cathedral, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the consecration of the renovated cells. These cells, once home to the priests of the Church until they were destroyed by fire in the late 1970s, have now been restored. The restoration of the cells was made possible through a generous $1,000,000 donation from Greek-American Archon George Marcus of California.
The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed gratitude to Archbishop Elpidophoros of America for his significant contributions and presented an honorary plaque on behalf of the Community to George Marcus, who could not attend the inauguration. The plaque was received by Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco on Marcus’s behalf.
George Marcus spearheaded efforts to rebuild the Church of Panagia of Pera, the Cathedral Church of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch as Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome. George Marcus donated $500,000 for the renovation of the church, which was originally built in 1804. In addition, he contributed $500,000 to fund phase two of the Maraslios Renovation Project.
On Sunday, September 1, 2024, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George in celebration of the Feast of Indiction.
After the Liturgy, the Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne proceeded to the nearby, recently-renovated Patriarchal Maraslion School for its official inauguration ceremony. As benefactors of the restoration, Archons George Marcus and Peter Palivos were honored, and hierarchs were offered a tour of the building, which will house various ministries of the Mother Church.
George Marcus’ wide range of commitments to the Orthodox Church and the Hellenic community include the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, International Orthodox Christian Charities, Leadership 100 and Elios Society of Northern California. George Marcus also founded and serves as the Chairman Emeritus of the National Hellenic Society, which brings together distinguished Greek Americans on a national level to preserve their heritage. George M. Marcus was invested as an Archon on February 24, 1991, and conferred with the offikion Exarchos. He is a fulfilled Founder of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.
Press
Orthodox Times: https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-led-grand-vespers-of-the-indiction-photos/
Orthodox Times: https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-led-divine-liturgy-with-hierarchs-from-around-the-world-video/
