The Feast of the translation of the relics of Saint Joachim ‘Papoulakis’ of Ithaca
With all due ecclesiastical splendour and grandeur, the divine services of the feast of the translation of the holy relics of our Holy and God-bearing Father Joachim of Ithaca, “Papoulakis”, were held this year in his birthplace, the village of Stavros, at the Holy Parish Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, Stavros, Ithaca, over the two-days of Thursday and Friday, 22 and 23 May 2025.
On the eve of the feast, the Supplication Canon of the Saint was chanted in the Holy Cemetery Church of Saint Barbara in Stavros Ithaca, with the local Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Theophilos of Lefkada and Ithaca, officiating. Afterwards, the procession of the Holy relics and the Holy icon of the celebrated Saint took place to the Holy Parish Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, accompanied by the clergy, the people of Ithaca and the Philharmonic Band of the island, and the Great Hierarchical Vespers with the blessing of the five loaves (Artoklasia), took place and was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Theophilos, who was joined by Archimandrites Fr. Raphael Grivas from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Fr. Sevastianos Moschos, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos of Katharon, Ithaca, and Fr. Spyridon Bouris, Hierarchical Commissioner of the city of Lefkada, the guest Archimandrites Fr. Makarios and Fr. Joseph Drosos from the Holy Monastery of the Presentation of the Theotokos “Katakekrimmenis” in Argos, who also took care of the Kolyva of the celebrated Saint, the Hierarchical Commissioner of Ithaca, Protopresbyter Fr. Christodoulos Trilivas, and other clergy of the island. The Holy Sermon was preached by Archimandrite Fr. Raphael Grivas from Ithaca.
On the morning of the day of the feast, the Matins Service was first chanted and then the Feast Day Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated, with His Eminence Metropolitan Theophilos officiating. The Holy Sermon was preached by Archimandrite Fr. Spyridon Bouris from Ithaca. During the two-day feast day, the chanting stand was served by the Parish Priest of the Holy Parish Church of the Holy Forerunner of Kioni, Ithaca, Protopresbyter Fr. Haralambos Koutsouvelis, who was joined by the chanters of the island, while the Mayor of Ithaca, Mr. Dionysios Stanitsas, the Prefect of Ithaca, Ms. Smaragda Sardeli, the teachers and students of the Stavros Primary School and Platreithia Kindergarten in Ithaca, as well as representatives of local political and military authorities and associations on the island were also present.
