Canonisation of Father Gervasios Paraskevopoulos by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

On Thursday, 16 November 2023, joyful peals echoed through the bells of every church in Patras as Father Gervasios Paraskevopoulos was canonised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

At the Church of St. Andrew the Apostle in Southern Greece, His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras and all the clergy conducted a celebratory Doxology. The Apolytikion of Saint Gervasios echoed for the first time as his holy icon was venerated, accompanied by the resounding chant of the Polychronion.

Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patra extended a cordial invitation to clergy and laity to join the commemorative Vespers Service at the Camp of Saint Paraskevi in Sychaina. There, the saint’s revered relics will be on display for veneration.

It is recalled that Metropolitan Chrysostomos had overseen the translation of the saint’s relics in 2014, marking the 50th anniversary of his repose in the Lord. Thousands from Patras participated, singing hymns and exclaiming “Saint, Saint!” in honour of Father Gervasios.

Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras took the necessary actions for Father Gervasios’ canonisation, navigating through the procedures of the Synodical Committee on Dogmatic and Canonical matters. The relative file, endorsed by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, was forwarded to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

On 16 November 2023, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew proposed to the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate the official declaration of Gervasios Paraskevopoulos as a recognised saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church Calendar.

Source: orthodoxtimes.com