IGNATIOS DEMETRIADIS: On Monday, August 10, the Metropolitan of Demetriada and Almouros, Mr. Ignatios, attended the Holy Temple of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Kalon Nero, during the Service of the Holy Paraklesis in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos, in the presence of the President of the Regional Council of Thessaly, Ms. Chrysa Tsagani, and a multitude of faithful.
At the end of the Holy Paraklesis, at the initiative of the Holy Temple's Church Council, the Metropolitan honored Archpriest Apostolos Thanos, retired Priest of the Holy Temple of Saints Constantine and Helen of Volos, who was one of the primary protagonists in the construction of the Holy Temple of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Kalon Nero.
The Priest of the Temple, Fr. Georgios Kornoutos, referred to the historical journey of the Holy Temple and particularly to the decisive contribution of Fr. Apostolos to its construction 52 years ago, during a particularly difficult time for the local community. He emphasized that the residents of the area contributed to the effort despite their hardships, with Fr. Apostolos as their primary leader. At the same time, he praised his many years of sacrificial priestly ministry, noting specifically that "we need to honor the people who are guideposts in our lives" and to take inspiration from their journey and dedication.
In his response, Fr. Apostolos Thanos expressed his emotion regarding this honorary mention, recalling memories from the period of the Holy Temple's construction and the collective effort of the local residents. He thanked the Metropolitan and the parish for the love and honor, emphasizing that his journey has always been connected to the ministry of the Church and the people of God.
Subsequently, Metropolitan Mr. Ignatios, while presenting the honorary commendation to Fr. Apostolos, spoke warmly of his character and many years of service. "In the person of Fr. Apostolos, I meet a priest of the 'old school'," he noted, underlining that he represents a generation of clerics who dedicated themselves entirely to the Church, created blessed families, and were true shepherds of the people. The Metropolitan especially praised the pastoral gift of the honored cleric, who knows the people, the families, and their real needs deeply, and expressed his gratitude for the support he has consistently offered to every effort of the local Church over the years.
Despite his retirement, as he pointed out, Fr. Apostolos continues to remain close to the Metropolis and to serve the Church. "You are an example for our young clerics," the Metropolitan emphasized, wishing Fr. Apostolos health and that he enjoys the Temple, to which he contributed decisively and which today continues to be maintained, beautified, and serves as a jewel of the region.
Following this, the Metropolitan bestowed the office of Archpriest upon the Priest of the Holy Temple, Fr. Georgios Kornoutos. Prior to the ordination, he referred to the importance for a Bishop to have worthy and trustworthy collaborators: "It is a great concern and a great prayer for every Bishop to have priests near him who are worthy of their mission... It is a rest for the Bishop to have priests whom he knows he can trust," he emphasized. Referring to Fr. Georgios, the Metropolitan spoke of a man who, from his youth, demonstrated abilities, love for his place, and a willingness to serve, and who, as a cleric, served with faithfulness every ministry assigned to him. He particularly noted the 'philotimo' (sense of honor/duty) that characterizes him and his readiness to respond to the needs of the Church. Finally, he reminded him that the cross is a symbol of Christ's sacrifice and, simultaneously, of the Resurrection. He wished him to always remain close to the people, to love his spiritual children and his land, and to continue to serve the Church with the same readiness.
After the conclusion of the Holy Service, in the courtyard of the Temple, the fifth consecutive cultural event of speech and music was held as part of the "August Paraklesis" series, organized by the Cultural Body of the Holy Metropolis of Demetriada and Almouros "Magnates' Ark, for the preservation of the cultural heritage." The large audience had the opportunity to enjoy a special program with songs dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, performed by the orchestra "IONIA," interspersed with narrative texts by the theologian and musician Elias Liamis.
Closing the evening, Mr. Ignatios expressed his joy at the large participation of the people and referred particularly to the value of trust and love between people: "It is a great thing in our lives to have people to trust, to love, and to love us." Connecting this trust with the person of the Panagia, he emphasized: "This is the secret of our Panagia. She has won our trust, and it is a very important thing to trust her."
He also referred to the exceptional participation of the faithful in the Holy Services during this year's period and expressed the certainty that Greeks all over the world will celebrate the Dormition of the Mother of God, the "Easter of Summer," in a special way. Finally, he wished everyone health and strength, as well as a peaceful remainder of the summer for our homeland, concluding: "May God bless you and sanctify you. Many blessed years. Happy Panagia to all."
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