42nd Anniversary of the Return of the Cross of Apostle Andrew to Patras, Greece
On the day of Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 January 2022 celebrations were held in the majestic Holy Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle in Patras, Greece, commemorating the feast of the Return of the Cross of the famous and glorious Apostle Andrew the First Called, from the ‘west’, specifically from France, from Massa in the city of the martyrdom of the Apostle, which he enlightened with his teaching and sanctified with his sacrifice on the Cross.
On the day of the feast, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, who ordained the revered Deacon Christoforos Paganias, married, who attends the Ecclesiastical High School of Patras. His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosios of Kinsasa and His Grace Bishop Chrysanthos of Kernitsa concelebrated with His Eminence.
In his sermon, His Eminence combined the healing of the Blind man of Jericho with the enlightenment of the Greeks by the Holy Apostles and in this case, of the city of Patras, by the Holy Apostle Andrew and their exit from the darkness of ignorance.
“What would the world be without Jesus Christ,” he said? Without the Light the truth? What would Greece be without the Orthodox faith? What would Patras be without the Holy Apostle Andrew?
“Let us stay in the Light, let us keep the shining candle of the truth revealed by God and let us illuminate the way of the descendants, dissolving the frustration of error and the darkness of sin that torments people and prevents them from uniting with the Light,” His Eminence commenred and then concluded:
“Jesus does not just pass by us, he is always with us, as long as we ask for His mercy from the heart, shouting from the bottom of our hearts: ‘Jesus, have mercy on us.'”
His Eminence also thanked Metropolitan Theodosios of Kinsasa, for his presence at the feast of the return of the Cross of St. Andrew and wished him a long and honorable pastorate in the missionary Diocese of Kinsasa. He asked him to convey his respects and wishes for many years and fruit to the Blessed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, His Beatitude Theodore.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a prayer was said in favor of the blessed memory and eternal rest of the well-known Archbishops of Patras Nikodimos, Metropolitan of France Meletios and the Arch-priest Very Rev. Fr Panagiotatos Simigiatos, who collaborated to bring His Cross back to Patras.
On the eve of the feast, in the great Vespers, His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosios of Kinsasa officiated and spoke, referring to the most holy person of St Andrew the Apostle, whom he characterised as a consolation of the Fathers in their every pain and help. Whom through his intercessions of which many miracles are performed.
His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosios of Kinsasa conveyed the wishes and blessings of His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Theodoros II and thanked the Apostolic Church of Patras for the help to the missionary Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Source: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
