Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made a pilgrimage today to Valaam Monastery and was received by the abbot of the monastery, Bishop Pankraty Zherdev. He first visited the Skete of St. Nicholas then moved on to the Skete of the Prophet Elias. At Prophet Elias the Patriarch requested that all sing the apolytikion to the Prophet as he lit the candle. He then went on to visit the Hermitage of the Virgin of Smolensk, where he was received by Fr. Seraphim, who was ordained by the Ecumenical Patriarch 20 years ago and speaks seven languages. Bishop Pankraty hosted a luncheon for the Patriarch at a creek nearby Valaam.
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