Expatriate Cretans from around the world at the Holy Monastery of Arkadi
On Sunday morning, 18 August 2024, His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, officiated during the Matins Service and celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Arkadi.
During the Divine Liturgy, Mr. Nikolaos Kastrinakis, the new President, and members of the Board of Directors of the World Council of Cretans, as well as expatriate Cretans from Piraeus, Thessaloniki and wider Macedonia, America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada were all present.
On this day, the memory of Saint Matthew the New Martyr of Gerakari Amarion who was martyred in Rethymno was also celebrated, at the initiative of the Association of Active Citizens of Rethymno “SYNPOLIS” and the Folklore Club “Tzanidakis”, whose patron saint is Saint Matthew.
Before the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, a greeting was addressed by the President of the World Council of Cretans, Mr. Nikolaos Kastrinakis, who emphasised the value of returning to their roots and gave thanks for the pilgrimage and the hospitality at the historic Arkadi Monastery. Also addressing the congregation were the President of the Pan-Cretan Union of America Ms. Diamanto Kounalaki, the President of “SYNPOLIS” and Appointed Municipal Councillor of the Municipality of Rethymno for matters of Volunteering, Greenery and Stray Animals Mr. Georgios Papadosifos, who referred to the life and messages of the Holy New Martyr Matthew, as well as the young Nicoleta Kamariti, who referred in English to the life of the Holy Four New Martyrs, who were martyred in Rethymno.
Finally, His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos expressed his joy for the “meeting” of Cretans from all over the world and from all over Greece, in the historic Holy Monastery of Arkadi, which is a source of freedom and inspiration for every single person in the world. His Eminence wished “that we all may never stop fighting for our ideals and values, our faith and our history”.
After the end of the Divine Liturgy, there was a guided tour of the premises of the Holy Monastery by the Abbot, Archimandrite Titos Vamvakas, and the Brotherhood offered rich Cretan hospitality at the Guest House of the Monastery.
The hospitality was accompanied by a traditional Cretan program, which was presented by a group of instrument playing clergymen of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, and by songs performed by the children of clergymen and dances presented by the “Tzanidakis” Folklore Society.
