October 15, 2018

Church of Saint Nikephoros the Leper Consecrated in the Town of His Birth


On 2 October 2018 the consecration of the Church of Saint Nikephoros the Leper took place in his hometown of Sirikari, a small mountain village located in western Crete, in the regional unit of Chania, Greece. It is part of the municipality of Kissamos. The consecration was officiated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus, Archbishop Irenaeos of Crete, as well as representative Bishops and Clerics from throughout the world. The church is located a short distance from the house the Saint grew up in, which was recently restored and has become a place of pilgrimage.

A Divine Liturgy will take place in this church every Saturday and a Supplication Service will be chanted to the Saint every Sunday evening. The church will be opened every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday for pilgrims, and his paternal home will be open then as well.