Larissa: beginning of events for the celebration of the local Patron Saint, Saint Achilles

Liturgical Events began in Larissa on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate its Patron Saint, Saint Achilles, Archbishop of Larissa and miracle-worker.

The Hierarchical Vespers of the Great Feast of Mid-Pentecost was celebrated in the Holy Metropolitan Church of Saint Achilles and not in the ancient Basilica, due to the adverse weather conditions, with His Eminence Metropolitan Theophilos of Lefkada and Ithaca, officiating and speaking, and His Eminence Metropolitan Ieronymos of Larissa and Tyrnavos, co-officiating, with the participation of the holy clergy and a multitude of faithful believers.

The local Shepherd, in his brief address, welcomed the Metropolitan of Lefkada and Ithaca with warm words, thanked him for his homily and address, but especially for the effort he made to travel from the Ionian Islands in order to come and celebrate with all of Larissa and all of Thessaly their protector and patron saint, Saint Achilles.

The hymns were performed by the members of the male and female choir “Choros Angelikos”, with choirmaster Mr. Georgios Karagiannakis leading, while the Commander of the 1st Army Mr. Stavros Papastathopoulos, the Deputy Regional Governor Ms. Maria Galliou, the Deputy Mayor for Culture Mr. Thomas Retsianis, and regional and municipal councillors were also present and joined in prayer.

Before the dismissal of the Vespers, the reliquary of the Relics of the Myrrh-flowing Saint was opened by the Hierarchs and placed out for general veneration.

Subsequently, a devout Vigil was held, at which the choir “THESSALIAN MELODIES” chanted, with the direction choirmaster Mr. Georgios Lemonopoulos.