Christmas celebration in the Metropolis of Derkoi, Constantinople
The Christmas celebration of the Holy Metropolis of Derkoi was held successfully and with a large turnout on Saturday, 21 December 2024, in the hall of the Church of St. George of the Makrochorion Community, in Constantinople. The children of the Sunday School conveyed many messages to everyone, presenting two theatrical performances, one “The Birth of Jesus Christ” and the other “The Helpers of Santa Claus”, as they also sang the traditional Christmas carols. Afterwards, the Sunday School children, as well as members of the Women’s Choir of the Holy Metropolis of Derkoi, with the name “Dafnes”, sang traditional carols from various parts of Greece, such as Thrace, Peloponnese, Crete, the so-called Byzantine carols, Ikaria and Chios, accompanied by instruments.
The Holy Metropolis of Derkoi co-organised this effort with the re-established Philoptochos Association of Makrochori, which with great love offered all those present traditional Christmas sweets, hot chocolate and mulled wine, as befits the Holy Twelve Days of Christmas.
This event was attended by the representative of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Grand Protosyncellus Father Gregorios Fragakis and His Eminence Metropolitan Ioakeim of Bursa, who together with the presence of a group of 14 youths from Bursa embellished the celebration. Also, among the audience were the Director of the historical archive of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Dr. Antonios Hatzopoulos, the head of the Public Diplomacy office of the Consulate General of Greece in Constantinople Mr. Georgios Mamalos, the Director of the Zappeion Gymnasium – Lyceum Ms. Rika Bekiari Pantelara, Teachers and Students of Ankara and Constantinople Universities, the Priests of the Armenian Church of Makrochori and Kouskountzouki and employees of the International Organisation BSEC and others.
The celebration was closed with a speech by His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, who with great emotion saw the efforts of his works, saying: “Today we have the joy of enjoying the youth and children of our Holy Metropolis, who with their enthusiasm and songs teach everyone the true message of Christmas. We are particularly happy that the Holy Metropolis of Derkoi teaches our children, the young men and women of our small, but numerous Greek Orthodox Community, the Orthodox faith of our Fathers, our tradition and our language. I am very grateful to the Sunday School teachers Deacon Daniel Zafiris and Deaconissa Efstathia Mania, who with their hard work and enthusiasm carry out this important and valuable work, but also to the parents who entrust their children to us.”
At another point, he did not fail to mention the difficulties: “I call on you not to listen to all those who are indifferent to the future of our children, who create problems and sow discord. Continue your work with courage and patience, which is supported by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, but also by my humble self with all our strength.”
In conclusion, Metropolitan Apostolos said the following: “Dear guests, Christmas is not a celebration of superficial joy and external gifts. It is the inner celebration of the Birth of Christ in our hearts, the rebirth of humankind into a new life, full of love, peace and forgiveness. I invite you, therefore, to celebrate this day, to remember the reason for which Christ came into the world and to try to embody the message of Christmas in our daily lives.”
After the greetings delivered by the representative of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Eminence Metropolitan Ioakeim of Bursa, and the President of the Philoptochos Association of Makrochori, Ms. Despina Pestemaltzioglou, the parents and children of the Sunday School delivered Packages of love filled with food that they purchased on their own initiative for the Philoptochos Association, so that they could be given to vulnerable families for the feast day of Christmas. This gesture moved everyone present, recalling the line from the Santa’s Helpers play: “May all the children have a glass of milk, lots of songs, lots of stars – May all of them be well, so that we too may not be ashamed of our own joy…”
At the end of the celebration, His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, and the Philoptochos Association of Makrochori distributed gifts to all the children and took commemorative photos.
