The Ecumenical Patriarch visited the Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy Abbey in Rochefort on November 12.

The head of the monastery’s brotherhood, Abbot Gilbert Degros, along with many faithful, friends and visitors welcomed Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The Abbot of Chevetogne Abbey, Dom Lambert De Vos, along with his three predecessors and the brotherhood, the Abbot of Maredsous Abbey, Bernard Lorent, many abbots and abbesses of neighbouring monasteries from Belgium and France also welcomed the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Subsequently, Abbot Gilbert Degros thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch for his presence in the monastery. The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his joy at being at the historic Rochefort Abbey with his Christian brothers where Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary are glorified for many centuries while he praised the cenobitic life of the monastery.

Finally, the Ecumenical Patriarch offered the Abbot a wood-carved cross and the Abbot of Rochefort Abbey gave to the Ecumenical Patriarch a luxurious leather-bound Bible, a copy dating back to 14th century.