Rethymnon: The Resurrection "farewell" to Firefighter Pantelis Diamantakis by his Priest Fathertranslated

Those who attended the funeral procession for the seasonal firefighter Pantelis Diamantakis, who lost his life in the Kryas Vrysis fire on Wednesday, July 29, were shocked by the farewell speech delivered by his father, Protopresbyter Fr. Emmanuel Diamantakis. At the Cathedral of Fourfouras, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, Father Emmanuel, in front of the Greek flag-clad coffin of his 25-year-old son, said the following:

"The Lord gave, the Lord caused; as the Lord gave, so it was; blessed be the name of the Lord."

All our dearest,

This day, the great gathering of loved ones is centered on you. You, who always preferred to be in obscurity. Our earthly Church was called to pray for you. May thousands of prayers unite in a sweet-smelling chord and reach the throne of God's Majesty.

However, I think it is pointless to tell you things that for you now constitute your new reality. You know them! You see them! The real life, the true life that you already know bit by bit since yesterday.

We, your family are experiencing the most painful, the most tragic moments of...