The Feast of Saint Vissarion in his birthplace, Petalidi, Messinia

In his birthplace, in Petalidi, Messinia, and in the Holy Church of Zoodochos Pigi, due to the narrowness of the space in the Chapel of Saint Vissarion, which was built with the piety of the Christians, the memory of our Holy Father Vissarion of Agathonite was honoured with a Holy Vigil, on the evening of Sunday, 21 January 2024.

In the specific Church of Zoodochos Pigi and in front of the Holy Icon of Panagia Petalidiotissa, the then young Andreas Korkoliakos and later Saint Vissarion, was baptised, nurtured spiritually and was destined to receive his calling from the Lord, since the Church and its Icon constituted his spiritual refuge in his childhood and youth.

The Holy Vigil was officiated by Archimandrite Filippos Hamargias, Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Messinia, joined by the Vicar General of Petalidi, Protopresbyter Dimitrios Kokkalis, and Archimandrites Alexios Aronis and Irenaios Gogounis, the Protopresbyters Vasilios Athanasopoulos, Athanasios Sipsas, Georgios Mitropoulos and Oikonomos Christos Koutsantonis.

Before the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and after the Kolliva was blessed in honour of Saint Vissarion, Father Filippos thanked the numerous pilgrims and fathers who came to honour the memory of the Saint, and then he referred to the person and life of Saint Vissarion, emphasising the two great weapons he had in his life, faith and love, calling everyone to have these as weapons against the Devil.