The Feast Day of the Patron Saint of Thebes, Saint John of Kaloktenes the New Merciful
The patron saint of the city of Thebes, Saint John Kaloktenes, Metropolitan of Thebes and Exarch of all Boeotia, the new Merciful, was celebrated by the Boeotian Church on 29 April 2023.
On the evening of 28 April 2023, at the Holy Church of Saint John Kaloktenes, the festive Great Vespers were celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios of Kefallinia, who was also joined by concelebrants, Their Eminences, Metropolitan Nektatios of Argolis and Metropolitan Georgios of Thebes, Levadeia and Avlis, with the participation of clergy from our province and other Metropolises, local authorities and a multitude of believers, who venerate and honour the Saint.
The divine word was preached by His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios of Kefallinia, who said that our daily request should be to “become Saints”, like the honoured Saint John of Kaloktenes and all the Saints of our Church, whom “we must approach and let them be our guides”. He emphasised that in our lives we should follow the will of God and have the Saints as an example and compass and reminded everyone that according to Saint John Chrysostom remembering a Saint means imitating a Saint. Finally, he prayed that Saint John of Kaloktenes would bless and sanctify everyone.
On the morning of 29 April 2023, a Divine Liturgy was held presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios of Kefallinia, who was also joined at the Holy Altar by His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Argolis and His Eminence Metropolitan Georgios of Thebes, Levadeia and Avlis, in the presence of the political, military and other authorities of the locality and the body of the Theban people.
The divine word was preached by the His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Argolis, who referred to the Resurrection of Christ; the empty tomb, the Myrrh-bearing women and the Apostles, all of whom were witnesses to the Resurrection of Christ. He referred to the disbelief of the Apostles, like Thomas, and emphasised that “we too today are sceptics, but we should have faith in Christ and trust in the Church and its Saints, one of whom is Saint John of Kaloktenes.”
During the Divine Liturgy, a portion of the Holy Cross of Christ from the Transfiguration Monastery of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, Sagmata was placed in the Holy Church for veneration. After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the procession of the image of Saint John of Kaloktenes and the Holy Cross followed through the streets of the city of Thebes, with the accompaniment of an honorary regiment of the Artillery Training Centre of Thebes and to the sounds of the Philharmonic band of the Municipality of Thebes.
At Vespers and at the Divine Liturgy, the resident Shepherd, Metropolitan Georgios heartily thanked the invited Metropolitans, to whom he wished a long Archpriesthood, strength and support in their work. He also expressed his joy that with sympathy and unity the city of Thebes, clergy and people, honours the patron Saint John of Kaloktenes and wished everyone many blessed years, health and strength through the intercessions of Saint John of Kaloktenes.
During the services, a choir of chanters sang under the lead chanter of the Metropolitan Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos of Thebes, Mr. Antonios Tsarouhas.
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