On the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee the Most Rev. Metropolitan Makarios of Siderokastron officiated a Divine Liturgy and preached the Divine Word in the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God of the parish of the Dormition.
Subsequently, the Most Rev. Metropolitan proceeded to Siderokastron and the Holy Church of Saint Paraskevi, where the Holy Metropolitanate of Siderokastron has been organizing anniversary events throughout the month of February to celebrate the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution, at the initiative and thanks to the inspired vision of Father Pavlos Papadopoulos, vicar of the church.
The members of the Association for History and the Revival of History from the town of Ghiannitsa, dressed in their traditional folk attire and fustanellas (kilts) made their presence dynamically felt by carrying out a revival of battles of the Revolution, to the enthusiasm of all those attending.
Thereafter, awards were conferred by the Most Rev. Metropolitan on the children who took part in the Painting Competition, after he selected the most original paintings out of a multitude of 150 different works, and awarded prizes to a total number of 6 children, i.e. 2 from each primary school, also offering them the relevant commemorative diplomas.
In a particularly emotional ambiance, the hymn of gratitude “To the General who defended us” (i.e. the preamble of the Akathist, Te Ypermacho Stratego, in Greek) was sung and, at the end, the national anthem.
During the event, all the Covid-19-related protective measures were observed, as it took place outdoors, and those attending wore masks and respected the required distances.
In his address the Most Rev. Metropolitan expressed his joy and admiration of the energy and dynamism of local society, which, though small in numbers, knows how to respond and support initiatives related to patriotic and religious subjects, particularly during the current year, which marks the completion of 200 years since the commencement of the Liberation Struggle.
The Most Rev. Metropolitan continued his address by stating: “Besides, only our Church is so far active trying to honour the figures of the Struggle of 1821 and to raise the patriotic feeling of the Greeks. The Church is the institution which does not forget to remind people of the importance of the good of freedom and love of fatherland. With its meagre resources, the Church is the body that strives to unite Associations and local clubs so that they may help towards this goal, to the extent, of course, that circumstances allow it, and by making use of technological developments, since many of these activities are also carried out online”.
“I wish that we may always carry the ideals of our ancestors in our hearts, the love for the faith and the fatherland, because at the end of the day these are the mosaic pieces which constitute our particular temperament as Greek Orthodox Christians, who know how to adhere to their mores and traditions”.
Finally, Most. Rev. Makarios reminded everyone that on this occasion the events in the Holy Church of Saint Paraskevi were completed and that the parish of the Annunciation (Evanghelistria, i.e. the bearer of the good news, in Greek) will take up the relay from now on, with a public lecture to be delivered, within the framework of its celebrations on and around the 25th of March, by Mr Apostolos Karydas, on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at 18h30, on the subject of “The Greek Revolution of 1821”, and another one, on the subject “The Benefactors of our land: Pallatides and Polyzoides” to be delivered by Mr Demetrios Hatzipanaghiotou.
