Rethymno: “The ‘Pascha of summer’ at the Monastery of Panagia Harakiani
The Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos took place with due splendour and great participation, at the Holy Pilgrimage site of the Monastery of Panagia Harakiani of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, over the two days of August 14 and 15, 2024.
On Wednesday afternoon, 14 August, the eve of the feast, His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos officiated at the Great Vespers Service and was assisted by the Grand Preacher of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Archimandrite Panaretos, the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Timios Prodromos Atalis- Bali, Archimandrite Parthenios Kalyvianakis, and Clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos.
According to the Order of the Holy Monastery, before the “Dismissal” of the Vespers, they chanted the Dirge Hymns (Egkomia) to the Most Holy Theotokos, in the crowded forecourt area of the Holy Pilgrimage Monastery, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of National Defence of Greece, Mr. Ioannis Kefalogiannis, and the Mayor Mr. Georgios Klados and Deputy Mayors of the Municipality of Mylopotamos, the ex-Mayor of Mylopotamos Mr. Dimitrios Kokkinos, the Appointed Regional Councillor in the field of Civil Protection and President of the Prevention Centre of the Regional Unity of Rethymno, Mr. Michalis Sarris, the Police Director of the Prefecture of Rethymno, Chief of Staff Mr. Emmanuel Papadakis, the Commander of the Venizeleio General Hospital of Heraklion Mr. Constantios Dandoulakis and the representative of the Cretans of Australia and New Zealand Mr. Antonios Tsourdalakis.
Before the dismissal of Vespers, His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, referred to the most blessed Person of the All-Holy Theotokos, Her role and importance in the life of Christians, emphasising that “all together we experience, for one more year, the Festival of Faith, giving a resounding response to the modern challenges of the times and testifying to the identity of our Nation as Orthodox Christians and our love for the Most Holy Theotokos”.
Also, with joy and emotion, Metropolitan Prodromos announced to the blessed congregation, from 1 September 2024, the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Timios Prodromos Atalis-Bali, Archimandrite Parthenios Kalyvianakis, will be appointed Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis, praising his ecclesiastical ethos, his attitude and his many years of fruitful ministry in the local Church.
On the main day of the feast, Thursday, 15 August 2024, the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Pilgrimage site was celebrated by the Grand Preacher Archimandrite Panaretos, who preached the Holy Sermon and conveyed the wishes and blessings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
