The Feast of the Holy New Martyr Theodore of Byzantium celebrated in Neochorion of the Bosphorus
With modesty, solemnity and with the traditional nobility of Constantinople, the members of the Community of Neochorion of the Bosphorus honoured the memory of their fellow villager, Saint Theodore of Byzantium.
A Holy Vigil was held in the Holy Church of Panagia Koumariotissa, with the participation of clergy and laity, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, Patriarchal Supervisor of the Bosphorus District.
On Friday evening, 16 February 2024, the feast day began in the chapel of Saint Theodore the New Martyr, which is located in the northern part of the ginekonitis of the Holy Church, where the festive Hierarchical Vespers took place, followed by the blessing of the five loaves (artoklasia) with the festive Matins and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy taking place the main Holy Church of Panagia Koumariotissa.
Concelebrating with His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia were Archimandrite Seraphim Yiannos, Protopresbyter Konstantinos Vartholomeos, while Patriarchal Deacon Anatolios Doxastakis officiated also.
The regular Chanters of the Community of Neochorion, Mr. Nikos Papageorgiou and Mr. Panagiotis Raktivan, as well as Mr. Panagiotis Dakos, Chanter of the Community of Palaios Banios of Diplokion, chanted with great enthusiasm.
Before the Dismissal of the Divine Liturgy and according to tradition, His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras blessed the feast day Kolivo, in honour of the celebrated Saint, and also preached the holy sermon and wished all the best to all those who were present.
The feast day Divine Liturgy was followed, in an extremely pleasant atmosphere, by a wonderful reception in the community hall and thus a good opportunity was presented for personal communication between the parishioners.
The Neochorion community, which is humbled for the Saint who came from within its local embraces, wishes for many blessed years to all who celebrate this feast day, filled with the blessing of the New Martyr Theodore of Byzantium.
