Tyrnavos: Festive Vespers of Saint Gideon at the Church which contains his tomb and the relic of his holy skull

In a festive atmosphere, the Holy Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos began the festivities in honour of the Holy Glorious new Martyr Saint Gideon of Tyrnavos. (of Karakallou)

The centre of the celebrations took place at the famous Holy Church of the Saint in Tyrnavos, where the Tomb and his grace-flowing Holy Skull are located.

Invited by His Eminence Metropolitan Ieronymos of Larissa and Tyrnavos for this year’s celebration were the recently elected by the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece, Metropolitans Athanasios of Ilia and Oleni and Dorotheos of Drama.

The Feast Day Vespers were officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Dorotheos of Drama, who was welcomed with warm words by the local Shepherd, the His Eminence Metropolitan Ieronymos, who emphasised both their fraternal bond, as well as the fact that the Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos welcomes a Metropolitan who presided over the local Church and became a cleric of this Diocese, starting his priestly journey and career from Larissa.

In his address, the Metropolitan of Drama referred to the repentance, zeal and confession of the celebrated Saint and how today every Christian today benefits from understanding, honouring and experiencing a great feast of a Saint, noting in particular the joy with which the patron and protector of the city of Tyrnavos accepted his martyrdom, a joy that all Orthodox should have in our lives and transmit it to all our fellow human beings, while he pointed out how privileged the people of Tyrnavos must feel to have such a great Saint and Martyr as their patron saint.

The faithful came from earlier on in the day to the Church of Saint Gideon in order to embrace his Holy Skull and venerate his Tomb, while present during Vespers were also the Archons and Officials of the city, led by the Mayor of the city, Mr. Ioannis Kokkouras.

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