← News feed Church of Greece

Opening night of the new Church of the Holy Fathers Eumenios and Parthenios in Koudoumas Monasterytranslated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

On Friday, July 10, 2026, the feast of the Holy Fathers Eumenios and Parthenios, new Founders of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Koudoumas, the Holy Monastery of the same name celebrated with particular splendor. The Most Reverend Metropolitan of Ierapytni and Sitia, Mr. Kyrillos, responding to a noble invitation of the Pastor of the Holy Metropolis of Gortyn and Arcadia, Mr. Makarios, went to the celebratory Holy Monastery, performed the Consecration of the Thyranoixians of the new pericallous Holy Church and then presided over the Divine Liturgy, co-celebrating the Venerable Metropolitans of Lampi, Syvritos and Sfakia Mr. Joakim and Mr. Makarios of Gortyni and Arkadia and a host of Priests.

In his homily, the Abbot of the Monastery Archim. Makarios Spyridakis, reported in detail about the project in the new Church of the Monastery, making a reference and commemoration from the oldest one that existed in its place since 1983 by the then Abbot Makarios Pitarokoilis, which had been inaugurated by the Metropolitan of Gortyn and Arcadia Kyrillos and in its completion in its current impressive form inside and out, in which he did not fail to name them all in detail and to thank them by giving everyone gifts and souvenirs for…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (30) 🌐 Show original

Тодор Кирилов

Χαίρομαι που ο νέος ναός ολοκληρος so beautifully. Ο ηγούμενος Μακάριος Σπυριδάκης καλα φαα και τον τον το το 1983 του Πακαρίου Πιταροκοίλη - so they don't forget those who started. Εύχομαι να προστέρει με για για για πολά κρονή η μονή.

Ирина Воробьёва

I’m glad that the new church turned out to be so beautiful and that Abbot Macarius spoke in detail about the old one from 1983 from Macarius Pitarokoili. It’s good when they remember those who started it. I wonder what gifts he gave to everyone at the end?

Elena Barbu

Good that they mentioned the old nave from 1983 of Father Macarie Pitarokoilis and that they thanked everyone by name. I was especially happy that they gave gifts and souvenirs at the end – a nice and concrete gesture. What kind of gifts were they?

Григорий Голубев

It’s good that Abbot Macarius did not forget to mention the old church of 1983 from Macarius Pitarokoili and even called everyone by name. Such things keep the connection of times. I wonder what kind of gifts and mementos he gave out at the end, probably something simple and heartfelt.

Elena Dumitrescu

Good that they mentioned the old nave from 1983 of Father Macarie Pitarokoilis and that they thanked everyone by name. I liked the concrete gesture with the gifts and memories at the end - that's how things tie together. What kind of gifts were they?

Георгий Иванов

It’s good that Abbot Macarius spoke in detail about the old church of 1983 from Macarius Pitarokoili and thanked everyone by name. Such things keep the connection of times. I wonder what kind of gifts and mementos he gave out at the end - probably something simple, like icons or rosary beads.

Иван Стоянов

It is good that Abbot Makarii Spiuridakis mentioned the old church from 1983 of Makarii Pitarokoili and thanked everyone by name. Thus it can be seen that it is not just a new construction, but a continuation. I wonder what kind of gifts and mementos he gave out at the end - maybe icons or something practical for everyone.

Надежда Морозова

I agree, Gregory, the connection between times is really important, especially when it comes to the monastery. It’s good that the abbot called everyone by name - this is not just politeness, but real gratitude. But I’m curious about the gifts: maybe icons or handmade rosaries, as often happens in such monasteries?

Вера Новикова

Yes, Nadezhda, listing everyone by name is really important, especially when we are talking about such a long work, which began back in 1983 under Father Macarius Pitarocoil. The gifts, apparently, were small, but sincere - I was told that many were given small icons of the new patron saints of the monastery. Have you been to Kudum or are you just following stories?

Bogdan Tudor

Yes, I also liked that they mentioned in detail the 1983 nave and Father Macarie Pitarokoilis. The gesture with the gifts at the end is really concrete and beautiful, it shows true gratitude. What do you think they gave, icons or maybe books about Saints Eumenius and Parthenia?

Емил Атанасов

I agree with you Todor. It is good that Abbot Makarii did not forget to mention the old man Pitarokoili from 1983 - so it can be seen that everything is built on the previous ones. And I am glad that the monastery continues to work peacefully.

Yes, I also liked that they mentioned the nave of '83 and Father Macarie Pitarokoilis - otherwise the connection with the work since then is lost. The gesture with the personal gifts at the end seems to me the most beautiful, it shows true gratitude. What do you think could have been in those packages, icons or maybe something handmade at the monastery?

Евгения Макарова

Yes, Nadezhda, listing everyone by name is really important. I also heard that the icons of the new saints were small, but of very fine workmanship. Have you been to Kudum yourself or are you just following stories?

Florin Matei

Yes, you're right, the detailed mention of the '83 nave and Father Macarie Pitarokoilis was a nice gesture of continuity. I think they gave icons of Saints Eumenius and Parthenia plus maybe a booklet about the monastery, as is customary with such shrines. Have you ever been to Kuduma?

Maria Munteanu

No, I haven't been to Kuduma yet, although I've heard so many times about how quiet it is there. I also liked that he mentioned in detail the naos of '83 and Father Macarie Pitarokoilis - it shows that the thread is not broken. Do you think that the icons with Saints Eumenius and Parthenia were made at the monastery or brought by the fool?

Алексей Семёнов

Yes, listing everyone by name is correct, without this there is no way. The icons really turned out to be small, but the work is delicate, it is clear that they did it with soul. Have you been to Kudum yourself or are you just following stories?

No, I haven't been to Kuduma yet, but I'd love to see the new nave with my own eyes, especially since it turned out so beautifully after being on the foundations since '83. I think the icons were made right at the monastery, as they usually do with their patron saint. Did you get there to a shrine?

Alexandru Matei

No, I haven't reached Kuduma yet either, but I liked how Abbot Macarie described all the work from the foundation from '83 until now. The icons really seem to have been made by them, following the style of the monastery. When do you think you will get there to a church?

Тамара Семёнова

Yes, listing everyone is important, especially when so many years have been invested. I haven’t been to Kudum myself, but my husband went there a couple of years ago for obedience and told me how they did everything there manually. And you, Alexey, have you been following this monastery for a long time?

Екатерина Белова

Yes, listing everyone by name is correct, without this there is no way. The icons really turned out to be small, but the work is delicate, it is clear that they did it with soul. I haven’t been to Kudum myself, but last year I baked prosphora for our monastery and heard from the priest how they brought everything to fruition there by hand. And you, Alexey, have you been following this monastery for a long time?

Radu Nistor

No, I haven't been to Kuduma yet either, but I remember how the work abbot spoke from the foundation in '83 and up to today's form. The icons really have their own style, you can see that they patiently worked on them there. What attracts you the most, the interior or the surrounding desert?

Anca Dumitrescu

I am drawn to the desolate place around, Radu, with those rough rocks and the silence that makes you hear only the wind. The abbot spoke beautifully of the work from '83, he also reminded me of how my grandfather started a small chapel in Dobrogea with the same patience. Have you ever seen the icons up close, how they are painted?

Viorica Lungu

No, I haven't arrived at Kuduma yet either, but I remember what Abbot Macarie said about how it all started in '83 with Father Pitarokoilis. The icons must have been painted by them themselves, as they usually do at the church. What attracts you more there, the job or the peace around?

Ilie Radu

No, I didn't get to Kuduma either, but I liked how Abbot Macarie mentioned Father Pitarokoilis' work in '83. I am more attracted to the silence there, especially after a week of cables and sockets in Craiova. Have you seen the pictures of the new nave, how does the painting look like on the inside?

Andreea Matei

No, I haven't been to Kuduma yet either, but I liked how Abbot Macarie reminded me of the icons painted by them themselves, as is done at the shrine. I am more attracted to the job, especially when we sing in the choir at our church in Constanța. Have you ever been to such a consecration of a new nave?

Elena Stoica

No, I didn't get to Kuduma either, but I remembered what Abbot Macarie said about how it all started in '83 with Father Pitarokoilis. I'm more drawn to the painting in the church, especially how the new painting looks inside - I'd love to sit there with a paintbrush all day. Did you see the pictures with the icons given at the end?

Petru Munteanu

No, I haven't been to Kuduma yet either, but I also liked how Abbot Macarie spoke about the icons painted by them - just like at our patron saint in Iași. The job is what attracts me the most, especially when we sing in the pew with the boys. Have you ever sung at a new church dedication, or just regular services?

Daniela Dobre

No, I haven't seen the pictures of the icons, but I'd like to see them - especially if they're made of simple carved wood, like we do here. The story of '83 and Father Pitarokoilis caught me too, as if I could see how they worked with their hands back then. Any idea who did the new paint inside, Elena? It seems painstaking work.

Ioana Stoica

Yes, I also caught the story of '83, it's like I can see how the wind was blowing through those simple scaffoldings back then. The painting inside is done by a painter from Heraklion, he seems meticulous but I don't know his exact name. Have you painted anything recently in your parish?

Maria Florea

Yes, the story of '83 seemed to me the most vivid part of the abbot's speech - it was as if you could feel the lime dust and the smell of fresh plaster. The painting in our parish was finished last spring by a painter from Arad, but it is not as painstaking as the one in Heraklion. Like you said, do you know the name of that one over there?