Nea Vyssa, Greece, December 5, 2014
A great saint and our contemporary, Venerable Porphyrios (Bairaktaris; 1906-1991; commemorated December 2) the Kavsokalyvite, has been commemorated at the Greek Monastery of the Protecting Veil of the Most Holy Mother of God in Nea Vyssa village, situated right at the Greek-Turkish border. At the service one monk was tonsured to the Great Schema—in honor of the saint.
The schema paramon the monk is wearing is in the Russian style, and so it can be supposed that the monk is Russian.
This tonsure to the Great Schema, performed at the monastery near the Turkish border right opposite the city of Adrianople, has a special symbolic value, reports Romfea.
Turks call Adrianople “Edirne”. In the 14th century Adrianople was invaded by the Ottoman Turks, and on May 3, 1821, at the beginning of the Greek liberation war, Turks hanged there Patriarch Cyril VI, who later was canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and became popularly known as “Ethnomartyros”, that is, “martyr for the nation.”
Nea Vyssa itself became a sanctuary for Greek refugees who had migrated here following the Asia Minor Catastrophe (Campaign) and The Population Exchange between Greece and Turkey.
Father Eusevios has been tonsured to the Great Schema with the name Porphyrios, in honor of the venerated saint.
The sponsor of the newly tonsured schema-monk was Archimandrite Barsanophios, and the tonsure to the Great Schema was performed by Metropolitan Damascene, who prayed at the Vigil service.
The main monastery church was packed with worshippers who came to venerate the venerable ascetic, Father Porphyrios, and to express their love to him.
