On Saturday evening, November 11, 2023, a multitude of people welcomed the Honorable Skull of Saint John Chrysostom, which for the first time in history has been brought to Athens from its permanent home at Vatopaidi Monastery. Saint John Chrysostom had received much of his secular education in Athens in the fourth century, and this reception of his skull marks its first return to the capital of Greece in over 1600 years.
The sacred head had been brought by Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopaidi and was received by Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki and Bishop Philotheos of Rogoi, assistant bishop of the Archdiocese of Athens who represented the Archbishop of Athens Hieronymos. It was brought to the Church of Saint Eleutherios, where a Doxology took place. It will remain in this church until November 16th, where there will be a daily Divine Liturgy and Services and the doors will remain open 24 hours a day.
The sacred head had been brought by Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopaidi and was received by Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki and Bishop Philotheos of Rogoi, assistant bishop of the Archdiocese of Athens who represented the Archbishop of Athens Hieronymos. It was brought to the Church of Saint Eleutherios, where a Doxology took place. It will remain in this church until November 16th, where there will be a daily Divine Liturgy and Services and the doors will remain open 24 hours a day.
The feast of Saint John Chrysostom is on November 13th, which brought an especially large crowd of faithful lining up to venerate his honorable skull.
It should be noted that the portion of the skull displayed for veneration is the incorrupt left ear of the Saint, through which it is said that the Apostle Paul was seen whispering into while Chrysostom was sitting down and writing his sermons on his epistles.
It should be noted that the portion of the skull displayed for veneration is the incorrupt left ear of the Saint, through which it is said that the Apostle Paul was seen whispering into while Chrysostom was sitting down and writing his sermons on his epistles.
