← News feed Church of Greece

Polyhieratic Vespers of Agia Marina in Lerostranslated

July 18, 2026 · 1 min read

With splendor and Byzantine magnificence, the memory of Saint Martyr Marini was celebrated again this year, in the Parish of the same name on the island of Leros. On the evening of Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the afternoon, the Great Solemn Multi-hierarchical Vespers was held with Artoklasias, presided over by the Reverend Metropolitan of Symi, Mr. Chrysostomos, joined in prayer by the Reverend Metropolitan of Leros, Kalymnos and Astypalaia, Mr. Paisios, of Theophiles Bishops of Halicarnassus Mr. Adrianos, Mr. Stefanos of Stratonikeia and Mr. Antoniou of Rodostolo. The holy High Priests were flanked by the Holy Clergy of the Island, as well as priests from other Metropolitans. A multi-member choir of beautiful cantors sang in the Holy Rectory under the direction of Raphael Hatzilaris.

During the Vespers, the Mayor of Leros Tim. Kottakis, the MP of Dod/sou M. Konsolas, the president of the Board of Directors were present. T. Koumbaros, the vice-mayors E. Helmi, Emm. Maravelias, G. Koutouzos, V. Kouvas, the leader of the opposition M. Kolias, municipal councilors of the coalition and opposition, the representative of the Periphery. N. Aegean I. The founder, the military authorities of the superior of the Guard Leros, the Security Forces, representatives of organizations and associations and...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (8) 🌐 Show original

Κώστας Παπαγεωργίου

I'm glad to see Raphael Hatzilaris conducting the choir, he always does a nice job. The polyhierarchical vespers with so many bishops must have been very imposing. Best wishes to all Lerites for the feast of Agia Marina.

Γιάννης Θεοδώρου

I agree Kostas, Raphael did a great job at the lectern again. I stayed with the fact that the five high priests together gave a special importance to the sequence. Did you finally go?

Δήμητρα Νικολαΐδου

Yes, the five high priests really gave another prestige. I only went on Friday morning for the Divine Liturgy, but I heard that Raphael kept the analogy at a very high level. How did you find Artoclasia?

Νίκος Κωνσταντίνου

The Artoclasia was very good, the offerings fresh and the blessing shared quickly before the day closed. Raphael did hold up the analogy, I heard it from afar too. You only went in the morning, so you didn't catch Vespers at all?

Στέλιος Νικολαΐδης

Yes, I only managed to go in the morning, work kept me up late. The offerings were indeed fresh, I also remembered our own breads that Eleni and I make at home. Raphael always does well, I agree.

Μαρία Παππά

Yes, the five high priests really mattered, I felt it from the first moment. I stayed until the end of Vespers and the Artoklasia seemed to me to be more abundant than last year, the pieces reached even the last ones. You who only went in the morning, how did you like the Liturgy?

Αγγελική Παναγιωτοπούλου

Good thing you made it in the morning, Stelios. I couldn't at all because of accounting work, but I was told that the deals were really great. Raphael with the choir gave another grace to the vespers, as if they were in the past. Helen how did your breads do this year?

Νίκη Βασιλείου

Well said Angeliki, Raphael with his choir really took us back years. I only caught the vespers and the bargains you saw were from our Eleni; this year she put a little more cinnamon and they gave off a different smell. Are you done with accounting or are you still running?