The Feast Day of Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos celebrated with splendour
The memory of Saint Savvas the New, the ascetic of Kalymnos, was celebrated in Kalymnos with religious splendour and magnificence.
On the eve of the Feast Day, Saturday 20 April 2024, at the Monastery of Saint Savvas, the Great Feast Hierarchical Vespers took place, of which His Grace Bishop Nikephoros of Amorion officiated, and was joined in prayer by His Grace Bishop Stephanos of Stratonikeia and the entirety of the holy clergy of the Island of Kalymnos.
During the entire Vespers Service, the local Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Paisios of Kalymnos remained in the area where the holy relics of Saint Savvas are kept, and anointed the faithful with holy myrrh.
Present also for the Vespers Service were the Prefect of Kalymnos Mr. Manolis Mousellis, the President of the Municipal Council Mr. Dimitrios Maragos, the head of the major minority and former Mayor Mr. Ioannis Galouzis, the former Mayor Mr. Dimitrios Diakomichalis, the vice-mayors Mr. Vassilis Mousellis and Ms. Popi Koutouzi Vogelzang, the Vice-President of the Board of Directors Mr. Chris Alahouzos, the municipal councillors Mr. Giorgos Psaras, Mr. Pantelis Zoidis, and many others. Also represented were the Commander of the 80 National Guard Higher Command, Brigadier General Pavlos Andrikopoulos, who attended from the military authorities, the Commander of 5/42 Evzone Regiment Colonel Dimitrios Gogoulas, the Commander of National Guard Defence Battalions of Kalymnos and a Delegation of Officers.
After the conclusion of the Vespers Service, and around 9pm, the Holy Vigil began and was presided over by His Grace Bishop Stephanos of Stratonikeia.
On Sunday morning, 21 April 2024, the Poly-Hierarchical Divine Liturgy took place, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Paisios of Leros, Kalymnos and Astypalaia, and concelebrated by Their Graces, Bishop Nikephoros of Amorion and Bishop Stephanos of Stratonikeia. The political and military authorities and a large number of believers from the Dodecanese Islands, but also many regions of Greece, attended the feast day Divine Liturgy.
From the sacred chanter’s stands, the outstanding chanters rendered excellently, in the Byzantine Kalymnian style, the hymns for the Feast Day of Saint Savvas.
After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a procession of the Holy Icon of the Saint followed in the courtyard of the Holy Monastery, with the accompaniment of a military guard of Honour, and a prayer was offered before the grave and the holy relics of Saint Savvas, for the health of all Kalymnians all around the world.
