Feast day of Panagia Ypapanti, Kalamata, Greece
With splendour and magnificence, in the presence of thousands of believers, the celebrations for the Patron of Kalamata “Panagia Ypapanti” took place at the Holy Metropolitan Church of the city.
On Thursday, 2 February 2023, His Eminence Metropolitan Theologos of Serra presided over the Matins and Poly-Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, who was also joined by Their Eminences, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Ilion, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maroneia, Metropolitan Theoklitos of Stagoi, Metropolitan Ieronymos of Kalavryta, Metropolitan Bartholomew of Kilkis, Metropolitan Nikiphoros of Gortyn, Metropolitan Damaskinos of Aitolia and Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia.
His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maroneia preached the divine word and referred to the holy character of the Virgin Mary, stressing that in the difficult days we are going through, we should pray for her intercession, so that we can meet Christ the Saviour.
After the end of the Divine Liturgy, a large procession of the miraculous Icon of Panagia Ypapanti took place in the central streets of the city, joined by many faithful, for the blessing and sanctification of the local population of the city as well as the pilgrims. The Litany was also honoured by a mixed presence of the army and air force as well as the Philharmonic band of the municipality.
At the end of the litany of the Holy Icon, the Metropolitan of Messinia underlined that the day of the feast reminds every one of the courage and strength that the Panagia, the Patroness of the city gives, especially in the difficult times we are going through, while he invited those present to observe a minute of silence in memory of the fallen pilots, who gave themselves in sacrifice for the country. Finally, he thanked the invited Hierarchs who participated in the feast day celebrations, the official guests as well as the faithful people.
The celebration was attended by, among others, the Vice-President of the Greek Government, Panagiotis Pikrammenos, MPs Yannis Lambropoulos, Miltos Chrysomallis, Periklis Mantas, Nadia Giannakopoulou and Konstantinos Bogdanos, the Mayor of Kalamata Athanasios Vassilopoulos, the Deputy Governors Andreas Tsoukalas, Anna Kalogeropoulou and Efstathios Anastasopoulos, the Mayor of Pylos-Nestoros Panagiotis Karvelas, the Mayor of Messina Giorgos Athanasopoulos, Regional and Municipal Councillors, the Chief of the Fire Brigade Lieutenant General Georgios Pournaras, representatives of the Armed Forces, the other Security Forces, as well as representatives of other local bodies and associations.
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