Alexandroupoli, Evros, Greece, August 1, 2023
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
The Orthodox faithful of Alexandroupoli, a Greek city on the coast of the Thracian Sea in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, revived its observance of an ancient Byzantine tradition yesterday.
In honor of the feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Wood of the Cross (August 1 on the New Calendar), the people, headed by their hierarch Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupoli, processed through the streets of the city for several hours last night, culminating in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at midnight, the Metropolis reports.
The procession also commemorated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Metropolis of Alexandroupoli.
The feast of the Procession of the Cross commemorates when the True Cross was carried through the streets of Constantinople to sanctify the city. The feast was established when the city was saved from a Muslim raid by the power of the Cross during the reign of Emperor Manuel Komnenos.
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
The procession tradition was revived in the city last night with the arrival of a special gift from Mt. Athos. Archimandrite Ephraim, the abbot of Vatopedi Monastery, gifted the city with a copy of the Holy Cross of St. Constantine the Great, the original of which is treasured at Vatopedi.
In its announcement of the procession, the Metropolis encouraged the faithful to participate, saying:
We invite you all to stay up all night for the Holy Cross of our Christ. We stay up all night so many times, for many reasons. Let us stay up all night once, following the sacred symbol of our faith as it “surrounds” our entire city with its blessings, our homes, the shops, our work, and entertainment spaces. And let us pray in His Grace to protect our city amidst the stormy change and tumultuous development of our wider region that has been taking place in recent years.
After the reception of the relic, a short Vespers was served, with the singing of “O Lord, save Thy people…” and “Before Thy Cross…”
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
The cross was then carried in procession from church to church throughout the city until midnight. The procession lasted about three hours, ending at the Metropolitan Church of St. Nicholas, where Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi celebrated Vigil and the Divine Liturgy.
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