April 23, 2011

2011 Holy Light Arrives In Athens From Jerusalem


Shortly after Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem received the Holy Light in a miraculous manner, he took part in the ceremony of distribution where he gave it to representatives from Greece among other places. The Greeks who received and carried the Holy Light were Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Dimitris Dollis, Bishop Chrysostomos of Halkidos and the Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre Archimandrite Damianos Panos.

The delegation was welcomed at Eleutherios Venizelos Airport among a large crowd of hundreds. They arrived at seven in the evening.

The Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre immediately said: "The transfer from the Holy Sepulchre of the Holy Light is the everlasting light of the Resurrection of Christ, which is the testimony of the glory of God."

He also noted: "On behalf of His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Mr. Theophilos III and all the members of the Holy Sepulcher Brotherhood, who are the followers of this age-old Romeiko presence in the Holy Land ... we wish sincere paschal thanks."

From the airport in Athens the Holy Light was also transferred to Thessaloniki where it was received at Hagia Sophia Cathedral and distributed to many parishes from there. From Athens the Holy Light was transferred to many other parishes throughout Greece in time for the midnight Paschal celebrations.