Metropolitan of Demetrias: On Wednesday, August 12, the Metropolitan of Demetrias, Mr. Ignatios, presided over the Service of the Holy Paraklesis in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Holy Church of Saint George in Nea Agchialos.
Following the end of the Service, a cultural event of speech and music took place in the courtyard of the Holy Church, as part of the "August Paraklesis" events, which are organized by the Cultural Body of the Holy Metropolis of Demetrias and Almou "Magnites Kivotos, for the preservation of the cultural heritage."
The Metropolitan of Demetrias, Mr. Ignatios, initially referred to his experience from his presence, a few days ago, in historic Agchialos in Bulgaria, on the occasion of the completion of 120 years since the Catastrophe of Agchialos, stating characteristically: "This year is special because I had the great opportunity and blessing to become a pilgrim in the historic ancient Agchialos, from where the grandfathers and grandmothers of this place left after the Catastrophe.
And it was they who came and created Nea Agchialos. I was given the opportunity to visit the area this year, marking 120 years since the Catastrophe of Agchialos. The reception was very warm, and I felt that the people there wanted to show their love in every way to the person of the Bishop who bears the responsibility for Nea Agchialos. We celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the only remaining Holy Church of the Greeks from that era, which is preserved today by the sea. Of course, today's Pomorie, as Agchialos is called, has evolved into a place with broader development. I noted that they want to preserve the historical memory, not to raise walls between us, but to remind everyone what extreme nationalism means, and to create bridges, to strengthen the bonds between the two cities and the two Metropolises, through exchange visits, building a peaceful path for all the Balkans, within a united Europe."
The Metropolitan added that one of the most important gifts he received during his visit to Agchialos in Bulgaria was the icon of Saint James of Agchialos. "This icon will remain in Nea Agchialos, so that the world may learn about the Saint and so that it may be an indication of the unity that is developing. Everything we preserve, everything we have, we received from refugees who came with nothing, driven away by mania and nationalism. But these people, although they came destitute to Nea Agchialos, brought with them icons and relics, planted vineyards, and created the Cooperative, resulting in us being proud of today's Nea Agchialos," he emphasized.
Subsequently, the Metropolitan referred to the icon of Panagia Gerontissa, which received its name at the Holy Monastery of Pantokrator on Mount Athos. As he emphasized, the Abbot of the Monastery was very old and had received a message from the Panagia that he would soon leave this life. The Panagia told him: "See to it that the Divine Liturgy is accelerated, so that you may have time to receive communion." The Abbot responded by asking the celebrant to speed up the Divine Liturgy. However, the celebrant seems to have forgotten and continued to perform the Service at a slow pace. "Then the Panagia intervened from the icon and told him: 'Do what the Abbot told you, so that he may receive communion.' And so it was. Since then, this Panagia has been named 'Gerontissa' (the Elder/Matriarch), because she took care of the Abbot of the Monastery," he reported.
Next, he paralleled the Panagia with the role of today's grandmothers, who contribute decisively to the upbringing of their grandchildren in the Orthodox faith. "Families run to these grandmothers, to those who are ready to be a sacrifice for everyone, to teach Christ in their own way. In every family, there is a Panagia, a woman, a grandmother, who plays this role: to gather, to unite, to sacrifice, to share, to settle, to reconcile people, because she has faith within her and carries an entire tradition of Orthodox faith and experience. And she knows that she has been entrusted with the role of educating children and grandchildren, relatives and friends, on the path of Christ and Orthodoxy. And today, more than ever, we need these Panagias," noted Metropolitan Mr. Ignatios.
Concluding, the Metropolitan emphasized: "The Panagia is the Gerontissa who approaches Christ, who cares for us and gives us a written example, not to forget the elders and the grandmothers in every family. Because in our age, unfortunately, this is also happening. Children forget their parents and grandchildren forget their grandfathers and grandmothers. But this place has lived because it has grandfathers and grandmothers. And always, in difficult moments, there will be a Panagia Gerontissa to provide courage and hope."
Subsequently, the ninth "August Paraklesis" took place, in the presence of a multitude of faithful, who enjoyed a special cultural program with songs dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, performed by the "IONIA" Orchestra, with narration provided by Fr. Efthymios Papageorgiou.