With Byzantine splendor, in the Monastery of St. Nicholas in Paiania, Attica the unifying concelebration took place of the Orthodox Churches of Greece, Romania, and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad who follow the Tradition of the Orthodox Church.
The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and all Greece with a multitude of hierarchs: the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Metropolitan Agafangel and his Titular Bishop Georgiy of Bolgrad, three representatives of the Romanian Church under Metropolitan Vlasie, Dionisie of Galaţi, Antonie of Ploieşti, and Evloghie of Sibiu, Metropolitans Justin of Euripus, Gerontios of Piraeus, Chrysostomos of Attica, Demetrius of America, and Cyprian of Oropos, and Bishops Gregory of Christianoupolis, Photios of Marathon, Ambrose of Philippi, Ambrose of Methone, Silvano of Luni, Clement of Gardikion, and Auxentios of Photike.
The Synodal Encyclical was read by the Chief-Secretary of the Holy Synod, Bishop Photios of Marathon, while Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos preached a detailed sermon.
The Orthodox Ecclesiastical Byzantine Choir chanted under the direction of Mihail Makris.
Truly moving was the presence of the relics the ever-memorable Primates of our Church: Metropolitan Chrysostomos (formerly) of Phlorina, and Bishop Akakios of Talantion, as well as the presence of the Elder Metropolitan Akakios of Attica and Dauleia.
It was a historic day of the witness of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece. On this day, 90 years ago the change of the calendar occurred, 90 years of persecutions sufferings and divisions.The God of love, our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ was pleased today to bless the efforts of the struggling pious clergy and laity with the unifying concelebration of His children. Throughout the duration of Liturgy, all present: hierarchs, priests, deacons and laity were teary-eyed at the miracle they were living.
Yes, it is finally a fact, the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece are one family with Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens.
Translated from the Greek.
Please find pictures from the concelebration below. For more pictures, visit this site. [nggallery id=155]
