Markovce, Košice Region, Slovakia, November 19, 2024
Photo: Diocese of Michalovce and Košice
An Orthodox Church in eastern Slovakia has been blessed with a fragment of the relics of a recently canonized saint of the Greek Orthodox Church.
On Sunday, November 17, His Eminence Archbishop Juraj of Michalovce and Košice of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia visited the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the village of Markovce in the Košice Region to celebrate with the local Orthodox Roma people.
Vladyka Juraj brought with him a fragment of the holy relics of St. Athanasios (Hamakiotis) the Younger, who was canonized by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in November 2023, reports Romfea.
The relics were gifted by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Kifissia, Marousi and Oropos of the Greek Orthodox Church.
At the Church of the Dormition, Abp. Juraj celebrated the Divine Liturgy with local clergy. Referring to the personality of St. Athanasios, the Archbishop emphasized, among other things, the saint’s tireless charitable service and spiritual joy.
Photo: Diocese of Michalovce and Košice
It should be noted that the village priest, Fr. Martin Halík, along with his wife, have dedicated themselves for several years to spiritual and educational work with marginalized Roma communities in Slovakia, and already in their 5 months of stay in Markovce, many results of their work are visible already in the first five months of their time in Markovce. Several Roma boys serve in the altar, while a large children’s Roma choir sings in the church.
***
St. 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.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
