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Metropolitan Hieronymos: He filled the vicarious vacancy in a village of Larissatranslated

July 21, 2026 · 1 min read

The Reverend Metropolitan of Larissa and Tyrnavos, Mr. Ieronymos, officiated on Sunday July 19, 2026, as a simple priest, in the Larissa Revival, in order to fill the vicarious vacancy there. A few months ago, the pious and good Vicar of the Renaissance, blessed Archimandrite Iakovos, passed away, leaving the village without a vicar. His Eminence praised the fact that even without a Priest, the residents themselves take care of their Holy Church with great diligence, as a result of which the Church of the Life-Giving Source shines with cleanliness and is fully decorated.

A large number of believers attended the Divine Liturgy, filling the Church, while the presence of small children and young people was typical.

In his sermon, the Pastor referred to the theology of the Fathers of the Holy Fourth Ecumenical Synod, its doctrines and their importance for the modern era. He implored people to consider the Orthodox faith as the most valuable thing in their lives and to honor it by living according to it.

Immediately after the Divine Liturgy, the church council hosted a reception in the open-air mansion of the Church, where the opportunity was given to further con...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Emily Young

It's nice to see the bishop step in like that and serve as a simple priest. The villagers keeping the Church of the Zoodochos Pigi so spotless even without a priest is really something. Our parish could learn from that.

Matthew Campbell

That's a good point, Emily. I remember when our old priest in Denver passed a few years back—folks here stepped up with cleaning and flowers too, but it still felt empty until we got someone assigned. Makes you wonder if more bishops would do the same, doesn't it?

Emily Brown

Our little group in Anagennisi did the same with the cleaning and the flowers after Father Iakovos reposed, and you're right, it still leaves a hole. Bishop Hieronymos stepping in as a plain priest like that was a real encouragement for us. Did your parish in Denver end up with a new assignment fairly quickly?

Irene Wilson

Our parish here in Toronto had something similar after Father Michael passed— the ladies kept the icons and the altar cloths spotless, but the place still felt quiet without a regular priest. Bishop Hieronymos pitching in as a simple priest like that is the kind of thing that keeps a village going. Did your Denver community ever get a permanent replacement, or are they still rotating?

Gregory Mitchell

Our parish in Portland had a similar gap a few years back after Father Elias fell ill. The older widows made sure the church smelled of lemon polish and fresh basil every Sunday, but it was the kids showing up anyway that kept the place from feeling abandoned. How long did it take your Toronto parish to find a steady replacement?

Helen Campbell

Our parish here in Boston had something like that after our old priest retired— the ladies kept the icons spotless and someone always brought flowers from their garden, but it was the young families sticking with Sunday school that really held things together. The kids do make all the difference, don't they. How's your Portland community doing now with a regular priest?

Mark Hall

Yeah, that sounds familiar. Our folks in the village here kept the place spotless too, just like those Denver moms with the brass and flowers. Took us almost seven months to get a new priest after Father Iakovos passed. Did your bishop end up staying for coffee with everybody after he filled in?

Anthony Collins

Yeah, those kids really do keep a parish alive. Our priest in Portland finally arrived a couple months back after the long gap, and the first thing he noticed was how clean and full of fresh flowers the church was—same as what you described. Has your Boston group started up any new youth activities since the new priest settled in?

Daniel Lewis

The kids really do make the difference. Our youth group here just started a simple baking night once a month—nothing fancy, just cookies and talking about the saints while the ovens are on. Has your parish tried anything like that since the new priest settled in?

Emma Baker

The kids really do make the difference, don't they. Our priest in Portland finally arrived a couple months back after the long gap, and the first thing he noticed was how clean and full of fresh flowers the church was—same as what you described. Has your Boston group started up any new youth activities? That's nice to hear about the ladies keeping things going in Boston. Here in Pittsburgh we had a similar stretch when our old deacon passed; my son still talks about helping dust the iconostasis with the other boys. Did your Sunday school pick up right away once the new priest came?

Michael Moore

The kids really do light the place up. We tried something similar last winter with a knitting circle for the teens—socks for the shelter while we read from the lives of the saints. How's the baking night going with your group? Any favorite saint stories that stuck with them?