His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius, traveled to Guatemala to celebrate the feast days of St Xenia of Saint Petersburg, and Saint Ignatius the God-bearer.
His Eminence celebrated the customary all-night vigil at the Church of Saint Xenia of Saint Petersburg on February 5, serving into the early hours of February 6.
Afterwards, preparations were made at the hermitage of Saint Ignatius the God-bearer with the help of the local inhabitants of Santa Cruz, Neranja, around a two hour distance from Guatemala City. The hermitage is situated in a beautiful isolated area, with a magnificent view. The area is very safe and the local inhabitants, although quite poor, are very protective of the hermitage. Over 70 faithful and catechumens attended the Holy Services at an outdoor liturgy served by His Eminence and Deacon Cyrilo Mendoza, in Spanish.
His Eminence has assigned Priestmonk Maximos, who is fluent in Spanish, to help overlook the Latin American missions. Priestmonk Maximos will have catechism classes on a regular basis. We ask the faithful to pray for our faithful in Guatemala.
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