Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew laid seven white roses at PAOK’s Toumba Stadium on Wednesday to honor the memory of seven young supporters who lost their lives in a road accident in Romania.
The Patriarch visited the stadium immediately after arriving in Thessaloniki, acting on what aides described as his strong personal wish to pay tribute to the victims. Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki accompanied him during the visit.
Visibly moved, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his condolences and solidarity on behalf of himself and the Mother Church of Constantinople to the families of the victims, as well as to PAOK’s administration and supporters.
He announced that on Friday, January 30, following a service at the Church of the Three Hierarchs, he will lead a Trisagion prayer for the repose of the souls of the seven young men, as well as five working women who died earlier this week in a deadly factory fire in Trikala.
The Ecumenical Patriarch earlier arrived at Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” Airport, where Metropolitan Nikodimos of Kassandreia, several bishops, Deputy Interior Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Konstantinos Gkioulekas, Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis, and representatives of the armed forces and security services welcomed him.
“With sorrow, I come to the place where the memory of this tragedy is honored,” Patriarch Bartholomew said at Toumba Stadium. “These young men experienced moments of joy and pride here, supporting their team, and they traveled to France with hope that PAOK would return victorious. Instead, their dream ended tragically in Romania, where their lives were cut short in an instant.”
He said the Ecumenical Patriarchate felt deep shock upon learning of the accident. “We saw the images and the unspeakable tragedy that unfolded. Now we accompany them on their journey to eternity,” he said, extending condolences to the families, friends, and the wider PAOK community.
Patriarch Bartholomew also highlighted PAOK’s historic ties to Constantinople, noting that both PAOK and AEK hold a special place in the hearts of the Greek Orthodox community there.
“The Church prays that the memory of the victims be eternal,” he said, adding that Christian faith teaches that “those who depart pass from death into life.” However, he acknowledged the human pain caused by such loss, calling death “a most fearful mystery.”
“In moments like these, many words do not help,” the Patriarch said. “I stand spiritually close to the families and to all PAOK supporters.”
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