Vespers and Order of the Proclamation of Faith…



Vespers and Order of the Proclamation of Faith and Calling of the Bishop-Elect Archimandrite Paul Ordologlu – Mersin
Patriarch John X: “The ordination of Bishop Paul is a renewal of the covenant with Paul the Antiochian Apostle of Tarsus.”
Mersin, April 24, 2026
 
“Antioch has spoken. This land of saints, the cradle of culture, faith, and witness, Antioch, has renewed the covenant with Paul the Antiochian Apostle of Tarsus through the ordination of Archimandrite Paul Ordologlu as Bishop of Tarsus.” With these moving words, His Beatitude Patriarch John X crowned his pastoral visit to the Antiochian parishes in Antioch, Hatay, and Mersin.
The climax of the visit was the celebration of Vespers and Order of the Proclamation of Faith and Calling of the bishop-elect, Archimandrite Paul Ordologlu. The bishop-elect opened the prayer which was presided by His Beatitude. At the end, he recited the confession of faith, in an atmosphere of paternal love from His Beatitude and in the presence of the hierarchs of the Holy Synod of Antioch: Basilios Mansour (Akkar), Athanasios Fahed (Latakia), Ignatius Al-Houshi (France and Western & Southern Europe), Ephraim Maalouli (Aleppo), Metropolitan Gregorios of Ankara (Patriarchate of Constantinople), and Bishop Arsenios Dahdal, auxiliary bishop to Patriarch John. Clergy of the parishes, heads of associations, and parishioners also attended the prayer.
His Beatitude concluded by addressing the faithful thus: “Together with the hierarchs, we are delighted to be with you in this blessed church, to crown our pastoral visit to the parishes of the region with the ordination of Archimandrite Paul and his elevation to the rank of episcopacy. We have given him the title Bishop of Tarsus, because Tarsus is the city where the Apostle Paul was born. This has great significance, for Paul of Tarsus, the Antiochian Apostle, was the one who carried the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. Therefore, we pray that the new bishop continues his mission with all the gifts he has been given, since he is an example of faith and generosity.”
His Beatitude then explained in detail how episcopal ordination is performed and what prayers and hymns it includes. Amid the acclamation “Axios” (“Worthy”), all departed the church carrying with them the spark of faith, hope, and joy.
Meanwhile, the camera of the Antiochian Orthodox Media Center captured a series of encounters and testimonies expressing the people’s pride in the new bishop and this historic act.