On Tuesday morning, September 10, prior to departing from Kuressaare, the capital city of Saaremaa Island, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and his venerable entourage were given a tour of the Medieval Museum by its director, Mr. Raul Salumäe.

Afterward, the Patriarch visited the nearby Holy Skete of St. John the Baptist, where he was received by the Abbess, Mother Theodekti and the monastic community. In the nearby church dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, His All-Holiness held a brief service and invoked his Patriarchal blessing on the faithful, who had gathered from the broader region.

On the way to the Kaali region, the Patriarch received a guided tour by the Hon. Anto Raukas, corresponding member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, of the Geological Museum and the adjacent meteoric crater, which constitutes a unique scientific and tourist attraction for visitors from throughout the world.

Prior to departing from Saaremaa Island, His All-Holiness visited the Church of the Nativity in Läänemaa, which was ruined by bombing, and prayed for the repose of the priest Constantine buried in the courtyard and all Orthodox faithful buried in the area.

Later, the Patriarch and his entourage left the island for continental Estonia, traveling to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Haapsalu, which was consecrated some years ago by His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrosius of Helsinki on account of the contribution of the Orthodox Church of Finland in the rebuilding and restoration of the church. The Patriarch was received at the entrance to the church by the Mayor, the Hon. Urmas Sukles, and his colleagues, the Lutheran pastor in the region and numerous faithful, whom the First-Hierarch of Orthodoxy paternally blessed with a brief prayer and addressed with words of comfort and edification.

At noon, the Patriarch was the honored guest at a luncheon organized by the Mayor of Haapsalu.

Following this, the Patriarch visited the center of neurological rehabilitation in the area and spoke to the patients, expressing his wishes for swift recovery and divine strength. He was received by the President of the Center’s Administrative Board, the Hon. Priit Eelmäe, who guided him through the facilities, and attended rehabilitation programs, where he was informed about the services rendered by the center.

In the evening, after returning to Tallinn, the Patriarch blessed the farewell dinner offered in his honor at the TV-Tower restaurant by His Eminence the Metropolitan of Tallinn, who conveyed his gratitude to the First-Hierarch for his honorable and supportive presence, which enriched the celebrations on the occasion of the 90th anniversary since the bestowal of autonomy by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Orthodox Church of Estonia. He then presented His All-Holiness with a commemorative medal for the autonomy. In response, the Patriarch expressed the satisfaction and congratulations of the Mother Church to Metropolitan Stephanos, the other hierarchs, clergy and laity of the local Church for their immaculate organization of the festivities and the successful completion of this Patriarchal visit to Estonia as well, indicating his wish that the local Church will increase and grow strong in the Lord to the pride of the Mother church of Constantinople.

Thus concluded the third visit of the First-Hierarch of Orthodoxy to Estonia between September 4-10, 2013, crowned with full success.