Evia, Greece, June 4, 2018
The glorification of Elder Iakovos (Tsalikis) of Evia was liturgically celebrated yesterday at the St. David Monastery where the new saint had labored in asceticism and served as abbot.
The festive canonization was headed by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the concelebration of 30 bishops from the Greek and Cypriot Churches and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, reports vimaorthodoxias.gr.
However, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens did not take part in the celebration, as expected. He was represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Dorotheos of Syros, the Vice President of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Thousands of faithful packed the monastery on Saturday night when Pat. Bartholomew arrived with a host of hierarchs from the Church of Constantinople to celebrate Vespers. Dozens of hierarchs from the Greek Church had already arrived, reports Evia Zoom.
Following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalcis offered some words reflecting on the spiritual personality of St. Iakovos. His All-Holiness then spoke, recalling his personal acquaintance with the elder who had predicted that he would be chosen as the patriarch.
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The blessed Elder Iakovos was numbered among the saints by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at its November 27 session, chaired by Pat. Bartholomew. The initiative to canonize Elder Iakovos was earlier brought by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, which sent the request and related documents to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. His feast day has been established as November 22 according to the New Calendar.
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