Holy Thursday-Holy Saturday in Greece

His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius of America, and His Eminence Metropolitan Moses, representing our Church in North America, took part in the service of Holy Thursday at the Cathedral Church of Saint Athanasios in Athens, Greece. On this day, the members of the Holy Synod gathered together to consecrate the Holy Chrism. This service takes place once every few decades.
 
Pictures can be found here:
 
 
For the Matins service of Holy Friday, our bishops were at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Menidi, Attica, serving with the Chief Hierarch of the Cathedral, Metropolitan Chrysostomos.
 
https://www.imab.gr/index.php/latest-news/1639-i-akolouthia-ton-agion-pathon-ston-kathedriko

The three hierarchs attended the service of the Royal Hours of Holy Friday at the same Cathedral followed by the Vespers service. The Ruling Hierarch of Attica asked our Metropolitan to preside for that service. 
 
 
In the evening of Holy Friday, each of the hierarchs went to one of the three Churches of Aspropyrgo where many Pontian Greek refugees live. Metropolitan Chrysostomos was at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Metropolitan Moses at the Church of Saint Eleutherios, and our Metropolitan presided at the Church of the Holy Archangel Michael. The three congregations met during the procession of the Epitaphios and the three bishops all returned together to the Church of The Holy Trinity to conclude the Matins service of Holy Saturday. It was very moving to see many thousands of Orthodox Christians, as far as the eye can see, following their hierarchs in the procession.
 
On Holy and Great Saturday, our Metropolitan served the Vespers Resurrectional Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Menidi, Attica, together with the priest of the parish, Father Michael.

https://www.imab.gr/index.php/latest-news/1643-o-epitafios-thrinos-ston-aspropyrgo

Orthodox Awareness

A Miracle of Saint Spyridon

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.

Missions

Saint Matthew the Evangelist, Jonesboro, Arkansas

Jonesboro is a town located near the Eastern border of Arkansas, with a population of approximately 60,000. From a human standpoint, it’s not the most likely candidate for a traditional Orthodox mission, but for an Orthodox Christian who orders his priorities around Christ and His Church, it makes perfect sense. Read more...

Youth

2023 Youth Conference

Please join us for the 2023 youth conference in Chicago, IL! To learn more, visit the home page or visit the conference website.

Ask A Priest

Civil Annulment's Effect on Church Marriage?

Q. This concerns a U.S. marriage. If the marriage is civilly annulled, what is the effect upon the Church marriage? Is it also annulled? Read more...