On September 2, 2025, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived at Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport to participate in the celebration of the patronal feast of the Church of the Mother of God of Pisidia and to mark the tenth anniversary of the church’s construction. At the airport, he was welcomed by His Eminence Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, accompanied by His Excellency the Auxiliary Bishop Ambrose of Eudokiada, the rector of the Church of the Mother of God of Pisidia in Alanya, Father Konstantin Shevchenko, the clergy of the metropolis, and a multitude of faithful who came to welcome him.
The Patriarch then visited the Regional Governor (kaymakam), Mr. Şakir Öner Öztürk, and the Mayor of Alanya, Mr. Osman Tarık Özçelik, with whom he held fruitful discussions.
The Patriarch presided over the solemn vespers at the church, where students from the Christian Student Action of Thessaloniki sang in the presence of the faithful from the metropolis and pilgrims from Greece and abroad. At the end, the Patriarch delivered a speech highlighting the significance of the tenth anniversary of the Church of the Mother of God of Pisidia in Alanya.
After Vespers, a dinner was held in the presence of local authorities: the regional governor, the mayor, the deputy mayor, and his wife, Mrs. Emine Koçak, who was also the architect responsible for the construction of the Church of the Mother of God of Pisidia and who collaborated with Father Theologos Chrysanthakopoulos on the architectural plans of the church. At dinner, the student choir of the Christian Student Action of Thessaloniki and the choir of the Church of Saint Alypios in Antalya sang.
On the feast day, the Patriarch presided at Matins and the Divine Liturgy in the presence of numerous faithful from all the parishes of the diocese and numerous pilgrims from Greece and abroad. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service for the repose of the late Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios Trampas of blessed memory was celebrated by the Patriarch.
The local archpastor, Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, greeted the Ecumenical Patriarch and emphasized the special importance and splendor of the patriarch’s presence that day in the Holy Church of the Mother of God of Pisidia, where, together with Metropolitan Sotirios Trampas of blessed memory, they contributed decisively to the renewal of the Orthodox Christian presence in the region. The Patriarch’s address moved the faithful with his fatherly advice on the Christian life. He spoke in Greek and Turkish, conveying the meaning of Christian love. A Russian translation followed.
The celebration concluded with traditional songs, a concert by local children, and a meal offered to all the faithful present.
