Joy and thanks greets news of Hieromonk Vissarion’s canonization by Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Sacred & Holy Synod

Tears of joy greeted news this week that the canonical committee of the Sacred and Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has canonized Hieromonk Vissarion (born Vissarion Korkoliakos), as a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The reposed Hieromonk for decades ministered and served the Lord from the Holy Monastery of Agathonikos, within the Metropolis of Fthiotida, in south-central Greece.

Church bells rang out joyously in churches throughout Fthiotida prefecture upon the announcement of the canonisation.

The same festal atmosphere was evident at the Holy Monastery, with the Metropolitan of Fthiotida, His Eminence Symeon, officiating at a con-celebratory Doxology in the monastery’s catholicos, or main cathedral, in the presence of numerous monks, nuns, clergy and faithful.

His Eminence referred to a historic moment, and expressed his gratitude to God and St. Vissarionas.

After the service, the Abbot of the Agathonikos Monastery, the Elder Archimandrite Germanos, speaking on behalf of the monastery’s brotherhood, also thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew I, and hierarchs of the Sacred and Holy Synod, along with the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos.
The same happiness and emotions were expressed by the Metropolitan of Messinia, His Eminence Chrysostomos, who approved and blessed a Doxology service, thanking the All-Mighty for the canonization of St. Vissarionas, who hailed from the village of Petalidi, in the extreme southern Greece prefecture of Messinia.

The service was officiated by the Metropolis of Messinia’s First Secretary, Archimandrite Filippos Hamargias.

Source: orthodoxianewsagency.gr