Accompanying Archbishop Eugenios were Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, along with a group of 150 clergy, monks, and devoted believers from Rethymno and Heraklion, Crete.

In a cordial exchange, the Metropolitan of Princes’ Islands extended his heartfelt wishes to the new Archbishop of Crete, offering words of encouragement and strength in his roles as the Shepherd of Heraklion and President of the Provincial Synod of Crete. He also extended congratulations to the new Hierarch of the island of Crete, Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno.

In response, Archbishop Eugenios expressed gratitude to Elder Metropolitan Demetrios for the gracious reception extended to him and his esteemed entourage.

As a gesture of hospitality, Elder Metropolitan Demetrios warmly welcomed the believers, hosting a reception in their honor.

Concluding the visit, Archbishop Demetrios accompanied Archbishop Eugenios and his esteemed entourage to the Church of St. Demetrios.

Text translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas

Accompanied by Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, clergy, and a host of pilgrims from diverse regions of Crete, the esteemed Hierarchs and devout pilgrims were warmly received at the Great Synodikon of the School by the Abbot, Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos.

Expressing his joy, the Abbot delved into the School’s history, touching upon its suspension 52 years ago and its profound contributions to theology, the Church, and the Greek Nation. In response, Archbishop Eugenios of Crete conveyed gratitude for the warm reception and recounted his personal connection with the late Metropolitan Maximos of Stavroupolis, the School’s final Scholarch, and Professor Chrysostomos of the School of Ephesus. He emphasized the special ties between the Theological School and Crete, shedding light on the numerous Cretan graduates who have graced its halls.

Following the welcome, the Hierarchs and pilgrims were led on a guided tour encompassing the Church of the Holy Trinity, the classrooms, and other significant areas within the School’s grounds.

Text translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas

The Delegation from the Volyn Orthodox Theological Academy of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine was joined by the Rector Reverend Dr Volodymyr Vakin, the Delegation from the Volyn Orthodox Theological Academy of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine was joined by the Rector, Dr Volodymyr Volodymyr Vakin, the Vice-Rector for Research, Dr Konstantinos Marchenko, Lecturer of the Department of Humanities and Practical Studies and the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Zhydychyn and Protopresbyter Viktor Pushko, Head of the Press Office and Lecturer of the Department of Bible and Theology. The Delegation was accompanied by Dr. Konstantinos Zorbas, Director General of the OAC.

During their stay in Crete, they received Cretan hospitality from Bishop Methodios of Knossos, who welcomed them to the Archdiocese of Crete on behalf of Archbishop Evgenios II, as well as from Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos and his associates.

The Ukrainian Delegation also had an interesting meeting with the President of the Patriarchal Higher Ecclesiastical Academy of Crete, Mr. Michael Stroumbakis, the Professors and the Administrative Staff. They were shown around the premises of the Academy and discussed in a climate of reciprocity and trust issues of cooperation between the three institutions at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

During their stay at the OAC, they had the opportunity to be informed by Mr Zorbas and the Foundation’s associates about the work carried out for 55 consecutive years as a Conference and Research Centre, as well as on issues related to the realization of mobility and training programmes for Ukrainian students in Crete.

They also visited the Holy Monastery of Chrysopigi, and the Holy Monastery of Gonia, and participated in the festivities for the feast of Agia Skepi, the national holiday of “OHI”, in the parish of Agia Marina Kolymvari and the Municipality of Platanias.

During the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation with OAC, the Director General thanked on behalf of the President of OAC, Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selino, for the special interest in cooperation with the Academy.

The Memorandum aims to develop academic and educational cooperation and promote mutual understanding between the institutions involved, through the exchange of researchers, students and doctoral candidates, as well as professors, scholars and other research and administrative staff, and the exchange of books, journals and copies of archival material, with available scholarships, grants and joint actions in relation to funding opportunities, co-organising scientific conferences, face-to-face or hybrid, seminars, fieldwork, ecological workshops, publications, and the promotion of all other academic cooperation.

The Memorandum comes as a continuation of the same effort with the Theological Academy of Kyiv (6-10 October 2023), to institutionalize a series of collaborations that has been underway for a long time, and is part of a more general theological pastoral programme with the central theme “The Orthodox Church facing contemporary challenges”, as well as other related ecclesiastical issues.

The participation concluded with the exchange of gifts between the Greek and Ukrainian sides.

Present also at the opening service where, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, HMetropolitan Ieronymos of Uganda, Bishop Methodios of Knossos, The Archiepiscopal Vicar of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete, Archimandrite Nikiphoros Kounalis, The Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint George Epanosifi, Archimandrite Dionysios Kasimatis, along with the Archimandrite and member of the Monastery Council, Archimandrite Theophylaktos Miliarakis, the Director of the Radio Station of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete, Archimandrite Chrysostomos Nikakis, along with the Deputy Director, Protopresbyter Fr. Ioannis Nikolaos, the General Secretary of the Communication and Educational Foundation of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete, Father George Gerakis, Parish Priest of the Holy Pilgrimage Church of Agia Skepi (within the grounds of the Patriarchal Academy) Archimandrite Kyrillos Christofis, Parish Priest of the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (crusader church) of Heraklion, Fr. Panagiotis Panagiotakis, the Archon Protonotarios of the Great Church of Christ, Mr. Ioannis Tserevelakis, the Director of the School of Byzantine Music of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete, Musicologist Archon Hymnodos of the Great Church of Christ, Mr. Antonios Plaitis, the Archon Master of Musicology of  the Great Church of Christ and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens member of the Higher Patriarchal Ecclesiastical Academy of Crete, Mr. Andreas Giakoumakis, the Coordinator of the Theologians of Secondary Education of Crete, Mr. Georgios Striligas, the Teaching and Administrative Staff of the Higher Patriarchal Ecclesiastical Academy of Crete, the students and respected guests.

After the conclusion of the Sanctification service (“Blessing of the Waters” or “Agiasmos”), the outgoing President of the Higher Patriarchal Ecclesiastical Academy of Crete and Director of the Priestly Studies Program, Assoc. Professor Mr. Christoforos Arvanitis, referred to the work carried out during his term, and symbolically handed the keys to the President’s office to the new President, wishing him a good and creative term.

Afterwards, the new President, Mr. Michael Stroumbakis, took the floor and referred to the work accomplished by the previous Administrations, to the challenges facing the Academy due to the reduction in the number of admissions and the general crisis of humanitarian studies, to the proposals that have been submitted so far, to the relationship of the Academy with the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and  Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with Archbishop Evgenios of Crete and the Holy Synod of the Church of Crete. Afterwards, he addressed the Academic colleagues, his administrative partners and the students of the Academy. He concluded his speech with the following:

“Being found in the period of grace, our Lord Jesus Christ, by His example and His life-giving Word, showed us a controversial path for the exercise of any authority-ministry: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all”. The first is the one who sacrificially places himself at the service of man through the cruciform dimension of the relationship between the Church and the world. God-honoured and people-proclaimed Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, we sincerely ask you to shield us with your blessing and pray for all of us, so that we may be found worthy of this journey.”

Then, Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, who referred to the course of the Academy and the need to support it in the surrounding atmosphere of the general situation of humanitarian studies. He emphasised, however, that the Academy’s continuous communication with the Holy Synod and the local Church is necessary, the cooperation of all in the prism of relationship as a communion of persons.

He clearly emphasised that the absence of “communication” creates the opposite of relationship, that is however, division. He urged the priests to encourage the children of the parishes to approach the parish work and enrol in Ecclesiastical Education. He said with a paternal tone that also reveals the Shepherd’s concern: “Someone took us by the hand and led us to the ministry of the Church. Shouldn’t we be concerned about whether we will leave people after us to follow in a similar path?” His Eminence concluded his speech with the wish to promote the feeling of love and brotherhood in order to advance the work of the Patriarchal Academy.

Afterwards, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who after offering his heartfelt wishes for the strengthening of the works of the Academy, referred to the way in which he supported the Theological College of the Archdiocese of Australia, through the motivating of Communities and Parishes, so that today, the college numbers 98 students.

Finally, Metropolitan Ieronymos of Uganda also spoke, conveying the wishes of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria and all Africa, referred to his acquaintance with the Archbishop of Crete from their student years at the Theological School and presented before everyone his vision for the creation of a School of Ecclesiastical Education and the building of a Holy Metropolitan Church in his Metropolis. Finally, he referred the two students of the Patriarchal Academy who come from Uganda and are preparing to return and offer their services in their homeland.

The Synodal Delegation consisted of Metropolitan Andreas of Arkalochori, Kastelli and Viannos, Metropolitan Gerasimos of Petra and Herronisos and Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos.

After the end of the Divine Liturgy of the Feast of the Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas, and the Patriarchal Horostasia at the Venerable Patriarchal Church of Saint George, Ecumenical Patriarch Barthalomew received the Delegation of the Church of Crete in His office.

Metropolitan Gerasimos of Petra and Herronissos addressed His All-Holiness, on behalf of the Delegation of the Church of Crete, as follows:

“We were made worthy again, Your All-Holiness Father and Master, by the Decision of our Holy Eparchial Synod, to come to the pious source of Orthodoxy and our Orthodox Nation, to our Lady Mother Church, in order to offer the cordial greetings and filial wishes of His Eminence Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, of the local Hierarchy, the entirety of the Holy Clergy, the monastic brotherhoods and sisterhoods and the pious people of the Church of Crete, on the occasion of the feast of your patronal feast day; at the same time, let us declare, once and for all, our gratitude and our unwavering devotion to the Holy Centre of the Ecumenical Throne and its charismatic helmsman.

All those in Crete, the children under Your Omophorion and spiritual care, we remember Your name with gratitude and thanks to the Lord, for what You always lovingly provide and do for us all.

The Orthodox ethos, which you embody, becomes known to all people as the antidote to contemporary problems, as it calms the tempest of every form of sin through the refreshing dew of the All-Holy-Spirit imbued tradition.

Your All-Holiness,

We humbly thank you for the testimony you give every day. Your pastoral ability along with each successful qualification of church economy, the great virtues of simplicity, unfeigned modesty and boundless love, but along with your unstinting actions, which as the years pass, instead of diminishing, increase, radiating to the ends of the world, the Gospel of the Cross and the resurrection and the word of hope in you.

All this is oil in the lamp of the Phanar, which illuminates the straight and royal path of our faith and warms our souls. It does not fade away, even when the winds of trials blow fiercely.

Temptations and doubts never escape from the Church. They are the instruments that the devil uses to fight against us all, those wanting to live piously in Christ Jesus. However, “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world“.

Accept, Your All-Holiness, our filial commitment to work and action, because we will join in your daily struggle, our great father and Patriarch, as a minimum recompense for the multiple favours and paternal affection we enjoy.

Nevertheless, we call out from the bottoms of our hearts “Many Years to you, master”, praying to the Lord to bestows on Your All-Holiness in the Church,  safety, honour, and health, unto length of days, rightly teaching the word of Your truth”.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his thanks to the Church of Crete, for the participation of a Synodal Delegation at his Name Day celebrations and assured them of the paternal feelings of affection and love of the Mother Church towards the Church of the Great and Holy Island of Crete.

The ceremony was presided over by Metropolitan Damaskinos of Kydonia and Apokoronas, who was joined in prayer by the Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Nikiforos Ikosidekas, as well as the the General Hierarchal Vicar, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Georgios Perakis, and other Clergy, in the presence of a large number of people, diplomatic delegations and representatives of the local political and military Authorities.

This was followed by a tactical drop by paratroopers from the 1st Parachute Squadron and an air show by an F-16 aircraft from the 115th Fighter Wing.

The importance of the resistance of the Cretans and the Allies during the German invasion of the island was mentioned in the addresses offered by the deputy governor of Chania Mr. Nikolaos Kalogeris and the general secretary of the Municipality of Chania Mr. Georgios Fragiadakis, while in his speech the mayor of Platanias, Mr. Ioannis Malandrakis, referred to the events of that period and reiterated the request for the local community to use the airport of Maleme.

Photos by: Foto mpouzis chania

On Saturday afternoon, the Festive Hierarchical Vespers were held, officiated by Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, who preached the divine word, after the address of Archbishop Evgenios of Crete.

On Sunday morning, 14 May 2023, the Matins was conducted and officiated by Metropolitan Gerasimos of Petra and Herronissos, and following this the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which was presided over by Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, and co-celebrated by Metropolitan Gerasimos of Petra and Herronissos and Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, Bishop Theodoros of Babylon (of the Patriarchate of Alexandria) and Bishop Methodios of Knossos. Co-celebrating also the Divine Liturgy were Archimandrite Bartholomaios Vogiatzoglou, Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete, Archimandrite Nikiforos Kounalis, General Hierarchal Vicar and Preacher of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete, Archimandrite Evgenios Karakonstantakis, Codifier of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete and many clergy.

Before the dismissal, Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, after thanking the concelebrating Holy Hierarchs, referred to the values that the presence of Saint Titus transmits to the next generations and emphasized the need to safeguard these sacred inheritances.

On the afternoon of the same day, a Festive Hierarchical Vespers was held, officiated by Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymnos and Avlopotamos, which was followed by the procession of the Holy Skull of St. Apostle Titus, officiated by Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, with the participation of the Metropolitan Damaskinos of Kydonia and Apokoronos, Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymnos and Avlopotamos and Bishop Theodoros of Babylon and Bishop Methodios of Knossos.

Representatives of local authorities, clergy and a large number of people attended.

The Archbishop himself, who a few days ago had spoken in flattering words about the current Bishop of Knossos, Prodromos Xenakis, was the one who announced Bishop Prodromos’s election to the Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos.

According to cretalive.gr, immediately after the announcement of the election, all the hierarchs were transferred to the building of the Archdiocese of Crete, where the new Metropolitan will give the Mikro Minima before the Holy Eparchial Synod and then they will go again to the Holy Temple of Agios Minas to give the Mega Minima.

Earlier, the hierarchs had been transferred from the Archdiocese building to the Holy Metropolitan Church of Agios Minas for the three-person (triprosopo) voting process and then for the election of the new Metropolitan of Rethymno and Avlopotamos. For the first time, in fact, today, the Holy Eparchial Synod met after the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Crete, Eugenios.

The enthronement ceremony was made in the presence of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who extended his wishes to the new Archbishop. In detail, he pointed out that he is confident that the Archbishop will be a worthy successor of the long history of Crete and that he will carry the spirit of renewal that the Church always needs, in order to meet the challenges of the changing times.

The new Archbishop of Crete Eugenios II was welcomed with an address by the mayor of Heraklion Vassilis Lambrinos, who described the enthronement as a historic day for the island and the city of Heraklion, while expressing his joy and excitement.

Upon his arrival at the metropolitan church of Saint Minas, all gathered shouted “worthy” (Axios) with the members of the new Archbishop’s entourage holding in their hands an image of Saint Minas, a relic, as the Archbishop Eugenios himself revealed during his rebuttal. An image that his grandfather brought with him, when he arrived as a refugee in Crete, from Asia Minor.

In his rebuttal, the new Archbishop said he was touched and stated, among other things, that “I come as the father of this great family with my arms open to all. We love, we forgive, we move forward “.

Inside the church, where the enthronement ceremony took place, were present: the members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Crete, representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarch, representatives of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Church of Greece and the Church of Cyprus, as well as representatives of Mount Sinai, as well as local authorities and bodies, the clergy and representatives of monastic fraternities.

The new Archbishop of Crete in his enthronement speech expressed his emotion, reviewed his progress to this day and spoke with words of love for the faithful.

Among the things the new Archbishop mentioned, was his desire to serve with love, unity and brotherhood, the Church of Crete.

“So let us come together to minister this Patriarchal blessing and under this perspective, with a fervor of faith, with the love of God with discretion and humility, taking and teaching lessons of spiritual freedom, in order to verify what our National poet, Kostis Palamas once wrote: “I am from Crete. “From the island, which does not grow old, does not bend, and enslaved, let it be free, to give lessons of freedom” “said the new Archbishop Eugenios during his speech.

He added that “our Church is called to inspire people all that, which will get them out of the current impasse. Remind them that they are images of God, children of the same Father and brothers among themselves, with a single destination and purpose, salvation. To tell them that there is no sin that exceeds the size of God’s love, inside of Whose arms, we all have a place. To teach them that the last and tragic human error is only unrepentance. That the only misery that cannot be corrected, is to find yourself one day without being able to repent in front of the person who forgives “.

The new Archbishop of Crete also referred to the pandemic, saying “unfortunately (the pandemic) made it possible to see, how deeply rooted the arrogance and introversion, the confusion and fanaticism in the social space are.

The biggest problem of the virus wrongly showcased, that there are and unfortunately exist spiritual and social individuals, that threaten our health, even threaten our Christian identity, since it is impossible for a Christian to be a fundamentalist and a fanatic. Some of our fellow believers become trustworthy, leaving the Gospel, and looking for false evangelists.

Archbishop Eugenios was accompanied by the Metropolitans of Kydonia and Apokoronas Damaskinos, Gortyn and Arcadia Makarios, Ierapytni, and Sitia Kyrillos and the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod and Bishop of Knossos Prodromos Xenakis.

Also in the meeting were the Protopresbyter of the Diocese of Rethymno, Fr. Nikolaos Nikiforos, and the Legal Adviser of the Church of Crete D. Milathianakis.

Immediately after the affirmation ceremony, the publication in a Government Gazette of the Presidential Decree for the appointment of Archbishop Eugenios as Archbishop of Crete and the enthronement ceremony next Saturday, February 5 at 12 noon, at the Holy Metropolitan Church of Saint Minas in Heraklion.

As has been announced, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Minister of Education Niki Kerameos, and the president of KINAL Nikos Androulakis will be present at the ceremony.

Due to the measures against the coronavirus, participation in the Church for the enthronement will be allowed with invitations to 250 people only.