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Vimaorthodoxias · Aug 14 View source View full article on hyper.nooz.ai

Με επιτυχία η εκδήλωση παρουσίασης του βιβλίου του Δ. Παπαδάκη: : «Η Ιερά Μονή Παναγίας Φανερωμένης Ιεράπετρας» - Βήμα Ορθοδοξίας

🌐 Quote shown in the original Greek — English translation below

Σύμφωνα με τον κ. Κύριλλο «η μεγάλη αξία του έργου... κινδύνευε νά μείνει σιωπηλός».

▲ For · Dimitrios L. Papadakis's book
Sentiment: positive

The speaker praises the work for synthesizing scattered historical data into a cohesive whole to prevent history from being lost.
🇬🇧 English translation

Successful book presentation event by D. Papadakis: 'The Holy Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni of Ierapetra' - Vima Orthodoxias

Ierapetra: In a particularly warm and moving atmosphere, on the evening of Monday, August 10, 2026, in the inner courtyard of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni of Ierapetra, the presentation of the new publication of the Holy Metropolis of Ierapytni and Sitia, the book by Mr. Dimitrios L. Papadakis, Philologist–former Lyceum Director, titled: 'The Holy Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni of Ierapetra,' took place.

The evening began with the Service of the Hierarchical Vespers and the Small Paraklesis Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos in the cave chapel of the Monastery, celebrated by the Abbot of the Monastery, Very Reverend Archimandrite Methodios Perakis. During the service, the Metropolitan of Ierapytni and Sitia, Mr. Kyrillos, presided from the ambo, blessed the bread in the courtyard, and delivered an inspired sermon, making special reference to the Lady Faneromeni, who for centuries has received the prayers, tears, vows, and thanksgivings of so many generations in her holy Monastery, and he wished that she might cover all pilgrims with Her holy veil.

The event, presented by the Secretary of the Holy Metropolis of Ierapytni and Sitia, Mr. Stavros Kakodeipnakis, began with a heartfelt greeting and welcome from the Abbot of the Holy Monastery, Very Reverend Archimandrite Paisios Dermitzakis, who thanked Metropolitan Mr. Kyrillos, the editor of the entire publication, for the publication of this precious book by the Holy Metropolis of Ierapytni and Sitia and the initiative to organize its presentation at the Monastery grounds, and the author Mr. Dim. Papadakis for his many years of in-depth study of archival sources, the collection of written and oral testimonies, and his systematic engagement with everything related to the history of the monastery, noting the spiritual 'bond' he has always had with the monastery. He also thanked the distinguished Academic Mr. Christoforos Charalambakis for the presentation of a work that illuminates the history, evolution, legends, and traditions of the Holy Monastery.

Subsequently, the new publication of the Holy Metropolis was presented by a Full Member of the Academy of Athens, Honorary Professor of Linguistics at NKUA, and our local resident, Mr. Christoforos Charalambakis, who presented Mr. Papadakis's work in a direct and accessible manner, describing it as the fruit of his arduous and long-standing research, noting that it constitutes a work of piety, scientific conscience, and local self-awareness. The distinguished University and Academic speaker did not fail to mention the personality, character, and general contribution of the author to letters, folklore, the recording of local history, and culture. Furthermore, Mr. Charalambakis shared didactic messages from his childhood experiences in his birthplace, East Ierapetra, as well as from his interaction with his teacher, author, and man, Mr. Dimitrios L. Papadakis.

Next, the floor was given to the author, Mr. Dimitrios L. Papadakis, who moved the audience with what he described as a testimony of the soul. He expressed his warm thanks and infinite gratitude to Metropolitan Mr. Kyrillos, who funded the publication, integrating his work into the publications of the Holy Metropolis of Ierapytni and Sitia, personally edited the publication—enriching it with rare and rich unpublished photographic material—and for the preparation of the event, as well as for his significant introductory note.

He also specifically thanked the Academic Mr. Christoforos Charalambakis for the thorough presentation of the book at the event, as well as in the daily newspaper of the Lasithi Prefecture a few days ago, and expressed his great satisfaction because his student today has international recognition for his great scientific and academic work. Additionally, he thanked his son, Loukas Papadakis, Dentist and author, for his contribution to the completion of the work.

The event concluded with the inspired closing speech of the Metropolitan of Ierapytni and Sitia, Mr. Kyrillos.

As he emphasized, 'The Holy Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni, known to older generations as Panagia of the Gournia, is not merely a significant ecclesiastical monument for Ierapetra and Eastern Crete. It is a place of living faith and sacred memory. It is a place where prayer meets History, asceticism meets the struggles of our people, and personal piety meets the collective memory of the Nation. Clinging like an eagle's nest to the wild foothills of the Lasithi mountains, above the Cretan Sea and opposite the Melambello Gulf, Faneromeni seems to have held an uninterrupted spiritual watch for centuries... During the years of conquests, revolutions, and deprivations, the monastery was a bastion of faith, a place of refuge and consolation, but also a space in which the consciousness of the historical continuity of our land was kept alive. The people who passed through its cells, the monks who practiced asceticism, the abbots who governed it, the benefactors who supported it, and the countless pilgrims who left their tears, vows, and prayers here, all constitute the great, unseen biography of the Monastery.'

According to Mr. Kyrillos, 'the great value of the work is that everything that until today was scattered in archives, old documents, newspapers, magazines, oral testimonies, photographs, and personal memories, is collected, verified, and integrated into a cohesive whole. It was not a simple bibliographic research; it was an attempt to reconstruct a world that was at risk of remaining silent.'

He also emphasized that 'the Church has a duty to remember. Not to self-admire by looking back at its past, but to know what it received, what it must preserve, and what it must pass on. Ecclesiastical memory is not nostalgia; it is responsibility,' he characteristically stressed.

In conclusion, he emphasized that 'today's event is an act of honor to the Panagia Faneromeni and to all those who throughout the centuries served, supported, protected, and loved her Monastery. It is also an invitation to all of us, and especially to the youth, to know our land more deeply. Not to be satisfied with the external view of the monuments, but to seek their soul. Not to see only the stones, but also the prayers that were heard within them; not only the old documents, but also the lives hidden behind their lines; not only the past, but also our responsibility towards the future.' He also wished that the new publication be studied not only as a book of History, but also as a testimony of faith, culture, and human continuity. That it becomes an occasion for new research, for new searches, and for a deeper acquaintance with the rich ecclesiastical heritage of Eastern Crete.'

Finally, Mr. Kyrillos, after thanking the author for this precious fruit of his labors, wished him, through the intercessions of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Lady Faneromeni, that the Triune God grant him abundant health, strength, and creativity, so that he may continue to contribute to letters, History, and the land.

The event was honored by the presence of the 1st Vice President of the Parliament and MP of Lasithi Mr. Ioannis Plakiotakis, the MP of Lasithi Ms. Katerina Spyridaki, the Mayor of Ierapetra Mr. Emmanouil Fragkoulis, the Mayor of Sitia Mr. Georgios Zervakis, the Vice Regional Governor of Lasithi Mr. Ioannis Androulakis, the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Mr. Antonios Mavris, the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Ierapetra Mr. Georgios Kougioumtzakis, the General Secretary of the Municipality of Ierapetra Ms. Maria Frantzeskaki, the Primary Education Director of Lasithi Mr. Georgios Mamakis and Secondary Education Director of Lasithi Mr. Athanasios Katsagkolis, the former MP Mr. Ioannis Kounenos, the President of the Bar Association of Lasithi Ms. Sofia Tsagkaraki, teachers, and many pilgrims.

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