In a climate of deep reverence a Divine Liturgy was celebrated for the first time at the place St. Michael Paknanas, the New Martyr of Athens, was beheaded for his faith and for his refusal to embrace Islam.
St. Michael is celebrated on July 9th, but the Divine Liturgy took place on Tuesday 5 October 2010 at the historical site of the ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It was conducted by Archimandrite Maximos Kappas, parish priest of the Holy Church of Saint Photini in Ilissos. Fr. Maximos spoke of the life of St. Michael and the difficulties faced by Athenians in those days of Ottoman occupation.
The managers of the Temple of Olympian Zeus have requested that a Divine Liturgy be celebrated in honor of St. Michael annually. It should also be noted that following the Divine Liturgy a Memorial Service was held in honor of all Greeks killed by the Turks during the Ottoman period.
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Read also:
Saint Michael Paknanas the Gardner from Athens
The Home and Garden of Saint Michael Paknanas
