Athens, Greece, September 9, 2020
Elder Athanasios in repose
Another holy 20th-century elder could soon be glorified among the saints of the Orthodox Church.
In March 2017, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Kiffisia of the Church of Greece requested that the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church begin the procedure for the canonization of Elder Athanasios (Hamakiotis) (1891-1967) since, as the official letter reads, “the conscience of the Church has long ago recognized his holiness,” reports Orthodoxia.info.
In August 2017, the Greek Holy Synod approved the request and transferred the file to the Patriarchate of Constantinople for a final decision.
In the Church of Greece, materials are first submitted to the Synodal Committee for Canonizations, which then passes them on to the Holy Synod. If approved, they are then passed on to the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which canonizes saints for the Church of Greece.
The Church of Greece and Diocese of Kiffisia are now awaiting a decision from the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has completed all the necessary work for the canonization of Elder Athanasios, Orthodoxia.info reported on August 18.
According to the proposal of Met. Kyrillos, if canonized, Elder Athanasios will be celebrated on August 17, the day of his repose, and on October 23, the day of the uncovering of his relics.
Romfea also reports that the case of Elder Gervasios (Paraskevopoulos) (1877-1964) could soon be addressed by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. As OrthoChristian earlier reported, the relevant materials were prepared and submitted by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras and were later transmitted to the relevant Constantinople committee.
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Elder Athanasios was born George Hamakiotis in 1891 in a mountain village in Kalavyrta. He became a monastic novice at the age of 15, and after finishing seminary 7 years later, he became a monk with the name Athanasios. He was ordained a deacon at the age of 25, and a priest at the age of 30 in 1921.
In 1931, he went to serve various churches in Athens. In 1936, he was appointed rector of the Panagia Neratziotissa Church in Maroussi, which became known throughout all of Attica thanks to Fr. Athanasios’ prolific work.
The elder is remembered for the beautiful way he served Liturgy and the charity and love he offered to all people.
For the last four years of his life, he lived in the small Panagia Faneromeni Monastery, which he built himself in Attica. He reposed on August 17, 1967, and was buried in the monastery. His cell, his personal belongings, and his relics remain there today.
