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Saint John the Stranger "returned" to his hometranslated

July 14, 2026 · 1 min read

A historic event took place on the afternoon of Sunday, July 12, 2026, in the local community of Myriokefalo in Rethymno, as the Founder of the historic Monastery of Myriokefalo and Missionary of Western Crete, Saint John the Stranger, "returned" to his home, after a millennium or so, by depositing a fragment of his Sanctuary Relics from the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropigian Monastery of Prophet Ilios Rusticos in the Holy Church of Panagia Antiphonitria Myriokefalo, which the Saint erected, around 1000 AD, and set as the center of all his ecclesiastical ministry and offering. In a cheerful and festive atmosphere, Rev. Metropolitan of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos, Mr. Prodromos, assisted by the Vicar of the Parish of Myriokephalos, Rev. Archpriest Theodoros Sifakis, and other clerics of the Holy Metropolis, the Vice-Regional Governor of Rethymno Mrs. Mary Lionis, the Mayor of Rethymno Mr. Georgios Marinakis, the pre-eminent members of the Army and the Security Forces of the place and a large number of believers, welcomed the Holy Relic of Osius, which was consecrated by the Professor of the Holy Patriarchate and Stavropigian Monastery of Prophet Helios Rustica, Panosiol. Archimandrite…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Martin Wagner

Nice to read that after almost a thousand years the piece by Saint John has returned to the church that he himself built around 1000. Metropolitan Prodromos and the abbot from Rustica organized it well. Hopefully more pilgrims will now come to Myriokefala.

Georg Weber

Yes, that was a really nice moment. Saint John not only built this church, but also worked there as a pastor for years. Hopefully more people will actually find their way to Myriokefala now, especially from Rethymno. Have you ever visited the relic?

Florian Becker

Yes, the return of Saint John truly feels like a homecoming. I was in Myriokefala last year and had the small church of Panagia Antifonitria almost to myself - very quiet and beautiful. Have you ever stayed there overnight or just taken a day trip?

Наталія Марченко

Yes, it is nice to read that the relics of St. John have finally returned to the same church that he himself built around 1000. Metropolitan Prodromos and the abbot of Rusikion prepared everything well. I hope that now more pilgrims will visit Myriokefali, not only Rethymno.

Lukas Weber

Yes, the silence in the small church is really special, you almost have the feeling that the saint is still very close. I was only there for a day trip, but my eldest son once stayed in one of the houses in Myriokefala and said that when you got up in the morning you could immediately feel the whole history of the place. Were you only in Antifonitria or did you also visit the monastery ruins?

Andreas Becker

Yes, Saint John really did his entire work there, not just building the church. I was there two years ago with my family from Cologne. After the liturgy we ate baklava in the village. Have you ever been to the small church when there was no festival?

Anna Weber

Yes, I have already seen the relic twice, once right after it was installed and again last year on a normal weekday - it was particularly quiet there. Hopefully more people will come up from Rethymno, as the church is only half an hour away. Have you been there yourself, Georg?

Helena Schmidt

Yes, this silence in the small church is really something special. I was also in Antifonitria and then sat by the monastery ruins for a few minutes - that's when you realize how old the place is. Did your son stay in one of the old houses or in one of the guesthouses?