Venerating the Holy, Consubstantial, Life-giving and Undivided Trinity, obedient to the will of the One Lord as expressed by the Church through the unanimous canonical ballot of the holy brotherhood, and professing the holy Orthodox faith, we take up from the hands of the blessed Dimitrios I, great among Patriarchs, the cross of Andrew the First-called to continue the ascent to the Place of the Skull, to be co-crucified with our Lord and His co-crucified Church, to perpetuate the light of the Resurrection.

Only by interpreting in this manner the canonical ballot of the most respected Hierarchs of this venerable Ecumenical Throne and "being in a wondrous state" by the events which surround us these days (of Lk 24:18) have we accepted the sacred responsibilities of piloting this spiritual ship, the Church of Constantinople, which "was established out of piety and has shown forth shepherds equal to the apostles -- as their successor, I, the unworthy, have come -- and which the Chief and First-called among the apostles had as a foundation," as we might say with Simeon of Thessalonika.