"DIMITRIA 2026" 24th day - Elder Forerunner of the Great Lavra Ag. Termstranslated

On Tuesday, October 20, the 24th day of the "DIMITRIA 2026" festivities of the Holy Church of Agios Demetrios, Municipality of Agios Dimitrios, at 7:00 in the afternoon, and after the celebration of vespers and the holy prayer to Saint Basil the Great and Saint Demetrius the Myroblites, according to the program, the speaker was His Holiness Archimandrite Elder Prodromos, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Great Lavra of Mount Athos, with the theme: "Ode to the Virgin". Elder Prodromos, in his speech, referred to the history and theological significance of the Akathistos Hymn, on the occasion of the completion of 1,400 years since it was sung for the first time, in 626 AD, during the salvation of Constantinople from the siege of the Avars and Slavs.

Describing the historical events of the time, he referred to the faith of the inhabitants of Vasilevousa to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom they attributed their salvation. As he characteristically pointed out: "After the unexpected salvation of the City, its inhabitants gathered in the church of Panagia of Blacherna and with obvious emotion they sang with all their hearts thanksgiving hymns to the Mother of God for the help she offered them."

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