Kilkis will bestow the title of honorary citizen upon Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Saturday, September 21, in a special ceremony at the Kilkis Conference Centre.
This honour comes as part of the city's centenary celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the elevation of the Diocese of Polyani to the Metropolis of Polyani and Kilkis.
The Kilkis City Council unanimously approved the decision, following a proposal from Kilkis Mayor Dimitris Kyriakides. Last November, Kyriakides, alongside Metropolitan Bartholomew of Polyanis and Kilkis, travelled to the Phanar to extend an official invitation to the Ecumenical Patriarch.
In his address to the city council, Mayor Kyriakides emphasised the significance of Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit, noting it coincides with the centennial anniversary of the diocese’s elevation. “The visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch is of immense importance for our city,” Kyriakides stated. “His presence not only enhances the prestige of our religious celebrations but also fortifies the deep spiritual ties between the Ecumenical Throne and the Holy Metropolis of Polyanis and Kilkis.”
The mayor highlighted that the city of Kilkis, predominantly a refugee settlement, holds historical and national significance for the Ecumenical Patriarch.
(Source: Amna)