With Byzantine splendor, in the Monastery of St. Nicholas in Paiania, Attica the unifying concelebration took place of the Orthodox Churches of Greece, Romania, and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad who follow the Tradition of the Orthodox Church.
The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and all Greece with a multitude of hierarchs: the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Metropolitan Agafangel and his Titular Bishop Georgiy of Bolgrad, three representatives of the Romanian Church under Metropolitan Vlasie, Dionisie of Galaţi, Antonie of Ploieşti, and Evloghie of Sibiu, Metropolitans Justin of Euripus, Gerontios of Piraeus, Chrysostomos of Attica, Demetrius of America, and Cyprian of Oropos, and Bishops Gregory of Christianoupolis, Photios of Marathon, Ambrose of Philippi, Ambrose of Methone, Silvano of Luni, Clement of Gardikion, and Auxentios of Photike.
The Synodal Encyclical was read by the Chief-Secretary of the Holy Synod, Bishop Photios of Marathon, while Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos preached a detailed sermon.
The Orthodox Ecclesiastical Byzantine Choir chanted under the direction of Mihail Makris.
Truly moving was the presence of the relics the ever-memorable Primates of our Church: Metropolitan Chrysostomos (formerly) of Phlorina, and Bishop Akakios of Talantion, as well as the presence of the Elder Metropolitan Akakios of Attica and Dauleia.
It was a historic day of the witness of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece. On this day, 90 years ago the change of the calendar occurred, 90 years of persecutions sufferings and divisions.The God of love, our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ was pleased today to bless the efforts of the struggling pious clergy and laity with the unifying concelebration of His children. Throughout the duration of Liturgy, all present: hierarchs, priests, deacons and laity were teary-eyed at the miracle they were living.
Yes, it is finally a fact, the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece are one family with Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens.
Translated from the Greek.
Please find pictures from the concelebration below. For more pictures, visit this site.
This miracle of Saint Spyridon took place in Mandra, Greece in 1926.
It was 12/25 December, 1926. The state Church of Greece adopted the Papal calendar and with the help of the Greek government persecuted all those who did not accept the Papal calendar. The faithful Orthodox Christians of Mandra woke up and headed to their Church to celebrate the Feast of Saint Spyridon. When they reached the Church they saw that the door to the Church had been secured with chains and the faithful could not enter. Before leaving the Church to return to their homes they stuck their candles on the door. As soon as the last person placed his candles on the door
the chains broke and fell. The faithful, confirmed in their Faith, entered the Church and celebrated the Feast of Saint Spyridon.
The miracle was reported the next day by the newspaper Skrip.
Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is a beautiful mission parish near downtown Tucson, a city in southern Arizona. It was started in 1997 by Father John Bockman, who was a missionary Priest formerly serving missions in Tennessee and Massachusetts since 1990. Father John served the faithful in Tucson and the surrounding area in his home Chapel until his repose in November of 2000. His wife, Presbytera Valerie, continued to make her home Chapel available for the mission, with clergy from Saint Nectarios Orthodox Church in Seattle and His Eminence, Metropolitan Moses of Toronto (then of Portland), visiting to provide the Divine Services.
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Q. Can you tell me what the two-headed snake cane the Greek Bishop is walking with represents? What does it mean?
-V.T.
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