The Feast Day of the Nativity of the Theotokos at the Diplokionion Community in Constantinople
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With solemnity, due reverence and with the traditional nobility of the city of Constantinople, once again this year with the Grace of God, the Community of Diplokionion, in Constantinople, celebrated the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, to whom her Holy Church is dedicated.
On Saturday afternoon, 7 September 2024, the Great Vespers of Saturday were celebrated, in conjunction with that of the Feast Day of the Mother of God, and was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoros of Kydonia, Patriarchal Overseer of the Bosphorus District, who also blessed the five loaves (Artoklasia), with the participation of the Priests of the Communities of the District,
Archimandrite Timotheos Railakis – Vrana, Parish Priest of Vafeochorion, Father Gedeon Magriotis, Parish Priest of Palaios Banios, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Father Evangelos Grigoriadis, Parish Priest of Mesachorion, Protopresbyter Father Konstantinos Bartholomeos, Parish Priest of Neochorion and Father Kyriakos Kesisoglou, Parish Priest of Vevekion.
In his sermon, His Eminence praised the role of Our Lady the Theotokos in the plan of the incarnate economy, for the salvation of the human race, while after the distribution of the Artoklasia, a reception followed in the courtyard of the Community complex.
The next day, the Sunday before the Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross , 8 September 2024, the Patriarchal Overseer officiated at the Matins Service and then presided over the Divine Liturgy, co-celebrating with Archimandrite Gideon Magriotis and Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Father Evangelos Grigoriadis, and Patriarchal Deacon of the Order, father Ieronymos.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia referred to the meaning of the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which this year coincided with the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
In conclusion, he congratulated the President of the Community, Mr. Konstantinos Diakrousis, and through him all those who contributed to the organisation of the feast day.
After the Eucharistic Synaxis, a reception was held in the nearby renovated Community Hall.
The Diplokionion Community would like to sincerely thank everyone who supports its work in various ways and wishes all the faithful many blessed years.