L. Lavrentiadis: “Saint Fanourios is constantly present in our lives”

By Maria ANDREOU*

The Saints are the Gospel put into practice in our lives. And Saint Fanourios, who endured 12 terrible forms of martyrdom rather than deny Christ, remained steadfast in his faith and was therefore crowned by our Lord. He is undoubtedly, as our Church chants in his Apolytikion, “glorious!” Saint Fanourios—whose name derives from the Greek word φανώ (“to reveal” or “to bring to light”), reflecting his association with revealing things that are hidden or lost—is one of the most beloved Saints of the Orthodox Church. His memory is commemorated every year on August 27.

For the large family of Lavrentis Lavrentiadis, both in its business and personal dimensions, the celebration of the memory of Saint Fanourios holds a special significance.

At the verdant foothills of Mount Roda (Chlomos), in the Dendra area of Atalanti, within the grounds of the industrial complex owned by Lavrentis Lavrentiadis for the production of detergents, disinfectants, cosmetics and fertilizers, stands the stone-built Church of Saint Fanourios. The church was founded three years ago by the great benefactor Lavrentis Lavrentiadis.

It was there, on Tuesday, August 25, that Metropolitan…