Thessaloniki, October 22, 2024
Photo: imchalkidos.gr
The Orthodox faithful festively greeted a venerated icon of the Mother of God that arrived from the island of Evia yesterday.
The Panagia Faneromeni Icon, from the pilgrimage site of the same name, arrived yesterday afternoon as part of the extended celebrations of Thessaloniki’s patron, St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer, whose feast falls on October 26.
The icon was brought by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkis and greeted by Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki with the clergy, faithful, and officials of the city, reports the Orthodoxia News Agency.
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
It was then transferred in a procession to the Holy Church of the St. Demetrios, accompanied by the Philharmonic band of Thessaloniki and the Greek police, military contingents, a delegation of Red Cross volunteers, and representatives of various cultural associations.
At the church, an official Doxology service was held, followed by Vespers and the Supplicatory Canon to Panagia Faneromeni.
A Hierarchical Vigil, with Matins and the Divine Liturgy) was celebrated in the evening by Met. Chrysostomos of Chalkis and Met. Philotheos of Thessaloniki.
The events in honor of St. Demetrios will continue through November 3.
***
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
The Metropolis of Chalkis tells the story of the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God that led to the foundation of the Panagia Faneromeni Monastery in Evia:
Three decades after the violent separation of the Artaki people from their Asian Minor homeland, at noon on April 29, 1951, Pascha Sunday, a miraculous event occurred in their new homeland, Nea Artaki, Evia, which was to mark their ecclesiastical life.
Eight girls, aged 10-12 years, were at a coastal location and, in the resurrection atmosphere of the day, were playing and singing. Suddenly, at a short distance from where they were, they noticed a black-clad, exceptionally beautiful woman, kneeling and in a posture of prayer. On her hands, she wore golden cuffs, and on her head, she had a black veil and a halo.
The little girls, faced with this sight, were troubled and, full of fear, left the place to notify their parents. However, when they arrived at the site, the black-clad woman had disappeared. But not the traces of her presence. The imprints of her knees were still in the soil.
The little girls reported the events to the village priest, the late Fr. Spyridon Athanasiou, and he to the late Metropolitan of Chalkis Gregorios (Pliathos) (1922–1968), who called the girls who confirmed the miracle to him, even telling him that the woman appeared in their sleep, telling them that she was the Panagia and that they should build a church at the site of her appearance.
After these events, the Metropolitan gave his canonical blessing for a holy church to be built in honor of the Panagia, which later became a holy pilgrimage site.
The foundation stone of the holy church was laid by Metropolitan Gregorios on August 12, 1951. From then on, people's offerings to the Panagia began, which continue to this day, as a precious legacy left to us by our ancestors.
The holy pilgrimage site was built and acquired a wonderful holy church, for the name of God to be glorified and the name of His holy Mother to be magnified. It was consecrated in 1969 by the late Metropolitan of Chalkis Nikolaos (Selentis) (1968–1974).
At the site of the theophany, a holy chapel was erected, and above it, the bell tower of the holy church.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
