Faithful continue to pay their respects to Late Metropolitan of Kydonia for a second day

For a second consecutive day, clergy, monastic communities, and throngs of faithful continue to gather at the Metropolitan Church of the Presentation of the Theotokos in Chania to pay their last respects to the late Metropolitan Damaskinos of Kydonia and Apokoronas, who fell asleep in the Lord on 8 April 2025, at the age of 67.

The body of the beloved Hierarch arrived on Wednesday at the port of Souda aboard the ANEK ferry “El. Venizelos,” accompanied by Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selinos, who currently serves as the locum tenens of the Metropolis.

Awaiting at the port were representatives of the Church of Crete, clergy, officials, and lay faithful who formed a procession to accompany the late Metropolitan to the Metropolitan Church in Chania, where his body was placed in repose for public to pay their respects. The lying in state will continue until the morning of Lazarus Saturday, April 12, when the funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m.

The burial will take place at the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Tsagarolon.

Representation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Eulogies

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will be represented at the funeral by Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, President of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete.

Archbishop Eugenios will deliver the official eulogy on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Metropolitan Kyrillos of Ierapytna and Siteia will speak on behalf of the Synod, while Archimandrite Nikiforos Eikosidekas, Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronas, will speak on behalf of the clergy, monastic communities, and faithful.

In accordance with the wishes of the late Hierarch, no other eulogies will be delivered.

Synodal Seat Filled by Metropolitan Athanasios of Koloneia

During its regular session on 9 April 2025, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Metropolitan Damaskinos, whom it described as a “beloved and greatly tried Hierarch.” The Synod also resolved to fill the vacant synodal seat with Metropolitan Athanasios of Koloneia, currently serving in London, for the remainder of the term.

Trisagion Service by the Ecumenical Patriarch

On the same day, 9 April, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over a Trisagion service in the Patriarchal Church for the repose of the soul of the late Metropolitan Damaskinos, who was an active member of the Holy Synod at the time of his passing. He was joined in prayer by fellow hierarchs of the Synod and members of the Patriarchal Court in an atmosphere of reverence and mourning.

Source: Church of Crete