The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has canonized two new Saints of the Orthodox Church today, the 16th of November 2023. The announcement of the canonization of Elder Gervasios Paraskevopoulos (+ June 30, 1964) was announced with great joy and after much anticipation by the Metropolis of Patras, while the canonization of Elder Athanasios Hamakiotis (+ August 17, 1967) was joyfully announced by the Metropolis of Kifisia, Amarousion and Oropos. The announcements are translated below:
Announcement of the Sacred Metropolis of Patras
A day of celebration and cheerfulness dawned for the city of Patras. Joyful news and glad tidings arrived from the Queen of the cities and like a bright lightning flashed across the sky and the ears of the people of Patras were filled with the voice of the Patriarch of the Nation, the renowned Bartholomew, that the sanctified spiritual father and teacher of Patras, Gervasios the sign-bearer, was ranked officially in the list of the Saints of the Orthodox Church.
Hearts leaped, eyes shed tears, bells rang joyfully, on hearing the joyous message.
Doxologies were uttered to the highest heavens, people with angels spiritually celebrate.
The First-Called welcomes Gervasios into the holy chorus of the Saints of Patras.
The birthplace of Gervasios, the children of Arcadia, like deer leap for joy.
The High Priest of Patras, together with the charitable Sacred Clergy and the Saint-loving and God-loving People, glorify God with thankful songs and sacred hymns, and the First of Orthodoxy and the Nation, His All-Holiness and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, they gratefully thank and most reverently kiss His Holy right hand, entreating the Lord for His long life, to the glory of God and of Ecumenical Orthodoxy, and with Him they give thanks from the bottom of their hearts to the renowned Holy and Sacred Synod.
● The renowned and venerable Saint Gervasios of Patras, saw the light of the visible sun, in mountainous Arcadia, in the beautiful village of Granitsa (Nymphasia today), in the year 1877.
As a child, he was orphaned by his mother and despised by people. The Panagia was his comfort, in the Monastery of Kernitsa near his village. "My God", once said the little George (that was his baptismal name), seeing the Saints in the frescoes of the Monastery, "My God, make me stick to the wall too."
Years passed since then and God heard his prayer and supplication and fulfilled his request.
Little George Paraskevopoulos, after many adventures, hardships, tears and efforts, arrived in Patras and knocked on the door of the late Metropolitan of Patras Hierotheos Metropoulos of Arcadia, who now became his protector. At the funeral of Hierotheos, which was performed in Patras by Saint Nektarios, George met Saint Nektarios, and he studied as a deacon in Rizarios protected by Saint Nektarios. He finished the Theological School and emerged as a wise and hierophant priest, who shone as an Army Chaplain in the Balkan wars, as a Preacher of Patras, as Chancellor of the renowned Archbishop Chrysanthos, as a protector of orphans and widows, as a nurturer of the penitent, as a father and intercessor of persecuted refugees, as a founder of Catechetical Schools, Camps and Creative Development Schools, a vigilant teacher of the young, tireless spiritual father and sign-bearer by the grace of God, while he was still alive.
He reposed on the day of the Holy Apostles in 1964. Thousands of now orphaned people mourned him and sent him to eternity, chanting "Agios" ["Saint"]. He rests in his beloved place, in Saint Paraskevi in the Sychaina Camp, which he founded.
In 2014, His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, on the completion of 50 years since his repose, transferred his Relics, in the presence of other Metropolitans and thousands of people in Patras, who sang resurrection hymns and with joy of soul and heart exclaimed: "Agios, Agios" showering with flowers and tears his holy Relics.
● Then His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras took the necessary actions for the canonization of Father Gervasios and after the opinion of the authority of the Synodal Committee on Doctrinal and Legal issues and the unanimous Decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, the File was sent to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in order to reach the auspicious day, which by divine inspiration, His All-Holiness and Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew, was proposed today, 11/16/2023, at the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate and the official ranking of Saint Gervasios of Patras in the lists of the Saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church was decided.
Wherefore the renowned and sacred Clergy of the Apostolic Metropolis of Patras and the pious, God-loving and Saint-loving People, honoring Gervasios, with a rejoicing heart, bless him by chanting:
"Rejoice divine offspring of Arcadia and the sacred treasure of the Church, rejoice divine teacher of the people of Patras, godly-minded Gervasios, with protection cover your children."
And we entreat God with raised hands in supplication, on behalf of the First of Orthodoxy and Nation, saying:
"Lord, through the intercessions of Saint Gervasios, keep our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in good health for many years and have mercy and save us all."
Glory be to God for all things!
Announcement of the Sacred Metropolis of Kifisia, Amarousion and Oropos
The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Revered Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople, under the presidency of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew, during the Session of November 16, 2023, decided on the classification into the Hagiologion of the Orthodox Church the Hieromonk Athanasios (Hamakiotis), founder of the Sacred Hesychasterion of Panagia Faneromeni in Rodopolis of Attica and for many years the priest of the historic Sacred Church of Panagia Neranziotissa in Amarousio.
Our Sacred Metropolis delights and rejoices in hearing the above Decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The celebration of his memory was set for the 17th of August of each year, the day of his venerable repose, and on the 23rd of October, the day of the translation of his sacred relics.
Our local Church expresses its thanks and gratitude to His Eminence Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew and with Him the members of the revered Sacred Synod, as we announce to the Sacred Clergy, the Monastic Brotherhoods and Sisterhoods, and the Christeponymous body of the Sacred Metropolis the following worship gatherings for this event:
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 24
5 p.m.: Sacred Hesychasterion of Panagia Faneromeni in Rodopolis. Placing the Holy Relics of our Holy and God-bearing Father Athanasios the New of Amarousio and Rodopolis in the Katholikon and the celebration of the Festive Hierarchal Vespers.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 25
MORNING
7–10.30 a.m.: Matins followed by a Festive Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, officiated by our Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of Kifisia, Amarousion and Oropos. After the end of the Divine Liturgy, a procession of the sacred relics will follow in the premises of the Sacred Hesychasterion.
EVENING
5 p.m.: Sacred Metropolitan Chapel of Panagia Neranziotissa. Reception of Honorable Skull from the Sacred Hesychasterion and then the celebration of the Hierarchical Vespers.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26
MORNING
7–10.30 a.m.: Matins afollowed by a Festival Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, officiated by our Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of Kifisia, Amarousion and Oropos. After the end of the Divine Liturgy, there will be a procession of the Honorable Skull around the Sacred Chapel.
EVENING
5 p.m.: Hierarchical Vespers followed by a Sacred Supplicatory Canon to Saint Athanasios the New.
The Honorable Skull of our Holy Father Athanasios the New of Amarousio and Rodopolis will remain for veneration in the Sacred Metropolitan Chapel of Panagia Neranziotissa in Amarousio until WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29, where daily Sacred Services will be held.
We invite the Sacred Clergy and the pious Christians of our Metropolis to participate in the first celebration of the classification in the Hagiologion of the Orthodox Church of our Holy and God-bearing Father Athanasios the New of Amarousio and Rodopolis.
Apolytikion of Saint Athanasios
Tone 4 "Tachy prokatalave"
Tone 4 "Tachy prokatalave"
The boast of the Lavra and guardian of Amarousio, the shepherd who adorned the Monastery of Faneromeni, Athanasios O faithful. Come let us reverently hymn with gladness, that our diseases may be healed which requires faith. for he has been shone to be a vessel of grace.