The feast of Saint John the Theologian in I. M. Etoloakarnaniatranslated

The Metastasis of the Holy Glorious Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian was celebrated with splendor in the Holy Metropolis of Aetolia and Acarnania. The Most Reverend Metropolitan Mr. Damaskinos, on the evening of Friday, September 25, 2026, officiated at the High Priestly Vespers Service, at the celebratory Holy Church of Agios Ioannis the Theologians in Ano Myrtia, Municipality of Thermo.

In his sermon he developed the phrase from the Gospel according to John "This is the disciple who testifies about these things and you wrote these things", choosing three characteristic words on which he based his speech: disciple, witness and author.

Referring initially to the status of a disciple, he emphasized that John the Evangelist was one of those whom Christ Himself called to abandon their previous life and follow Him. In the choir of disciples, however, John stood out for his deep love for Christ and for this reason he remained in the church consciousness as the "beloved disciple". His Holiness specifically referred to the Last Supper, when John fell on the Lord's chest, but also to his presence under the Cross, when the rest of the disciples...