In 1952 Archimandrite Petros was able to make his way to America, and gain his religious freedom. After a few years he was able to bring Fr. Eleutherios to America to join him. Fr. Eleutherios would struggle for the cause of Traditionalist Orthodoxy for decades alongside his friend and fellow native of Chios, Petros Astyfides. Petros stayed in NYC where he became the Metropolitan of Astoria. Fr. Eleutherios was assigned to the Parish of St. Spyridon near Detroit, where he remained until he went to Mt. Athos in 1980. He never left the Holy Mountain, until he reposed on April 21, 2020, aged 97. He was the last man living that had been arrested, jailed, and prosecuted for being a Greek Orthodox Christian in his own country of Greece.
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 please explain the significance of the forty day memorial service? An Evangelical family asked one of our relatives that question. We said that it’s best to ask a clergy member. Thank you in advance for your response. (We will forward it to them as soon as possible).
-P. & M. G.
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