On Thursday, May 23rd 2024, in an atmosphere of resurrection joy, the memory of Saint Eumenios the New was celebrated in the Chapel of Holy Unmercenaries at the General Hospital of Western Attica "Agia Varvara", where the Saint once served.
In the solemn Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Alexios of Nicaea was flanked by clergy of the Metropolis and other Metropolises.
The Divine Word was preached by His Eminence, who referred to the life of Saint Eumenios, emphasizing that: "The saints are our role models for us... From 1995 until the death of Saint Eumenios, I was found worthy to be with him. To officiate, to consult him. I remember that when I announced to him that I was building the Monastery of the Holy Fathers, he completely beamed and blessed me to complete it and consecrate it. And indeed the blessings of Saint Eumenios have caught on and today, 20 years after the foundation of our Monastery, it is a place of prayer, asceticism, sanctification and philanthropy" - His Eminence added.
It should be mentioned that the church was full of believers of all ages, who from early in the morning rushed to the cell of Saint Eumenios to venerate his Icon, the Holy Relics that were placed for veneration and finally to partake of the Immaculate Mysteries.
After the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Alexios of Nicaea pointed out: "Saint Eumenios is always above us, he blesses us and rejoices over his spiritual children. Let us keep from Saint Eumenius his faith in Orthodoxy and his humility."
On Sunday, May 26th 2024, Metropolitan Makarios of Gortyna and Arcadia consecrated a new temple in honor Saint Eumenios the New, in the forecourt of the Monastery of Koudoumas in Crete, in the presence of a large number of local believers as well as from around the world.
The new chapel at the Monastery of Koudoumas was built on the site of an old cell that housed the leprous ascetics of Asterousia. Saint Eumenios, after living through the illness and being cured, with the miraculous intervention of the Panagia of Koudoumas, continued to serve lepers at the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Athens. During the ceremony, the Sacred Relics of the Four New Martyrs of Rethymno were placed in the new Holy Altar, together with memorial papers that exceeded 100,000 names of the living and reposed, manifesting in this way our eternal unity as the one Body of Christ.
The collection of names was done through an online invitation, confirming that all tools, physical or digital, can be used for the Glory of God.
"Whatever the Lord willed, He accomplished," the Saint typically said, and let this be our motto. "Joy and love for God and fellow man can turn pain into cheerfulness, illness into healing, exclusion into a living community," said the Abbot of the Monastery of Koudoumas, Archimandrite Makarios Spyridakis. He also asked the faithful to "be inspired by the offering of Saint Eumenios and to keep his smile engraved in your hearts as a legacy from today's consecration celebration."
Upon completion of the consecration, Metropolitan Makarios of Gortyna and Arkadia distributed blessings to the faithful and benefactors, while the Abbot thanked all those who participated and contributed to the realization of this day.
A solemn feast followed for all the pilgrims. The new Chapel of Saint Eumenios the New invites everyone to experience up close the love, joy and gratitude that Saint Eumenios the New generously transmits.
The new chapel at the Monastery of Koudoumas was built on the site of an old cell that housed the leprous ascetics of Asterousia. Saint Eumenios, after living through the illness and being cured, with the miraculous intervention of the Panagia of Koudoumas, continued to serve lepers at the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Athens. During the ceremony, the Sacred Relics of the Four New Martyrs of Rethymno were placed in the new Holy Altar, together with memorial papers that exceeded 100,000 names of the living and reposed, manifesting in this way our eternal unity as the one Body of Christ.
The collection of names was done through an online invitation, confirming that all tools, physical or digital, can be used for the Glory of God.
"Whatever the Lord willed, He accomplished," the Saint typically said, and let this be our motto. "Joy and love for God and fellow man can turn pain into cheerfulness, illness into healing, exclusion into a living community," said the Abbot of the Monastery of Koudoumas, Archimandrite Makarios Spyridakis. He also asked the faithful to "be inspired by the offering of Saint Eumenios and to keep his smile engraved in your hearts as a legacy from today's consecration celebration."
Upon completion of the consecration, Metropolitan Makarios of Gortyna and Arkadia distributed blessings to the faithful and benefactors, while the Abbot thanked all those who participated and contributed to the realization of this day.
A solemn feast followed for all the pilgrims. The new Chapel of Saint Eumenios the New invites everyone to experience up close the love, joy and gratitude that Saint Eumenios the New generously transmits.
