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Celebration of the Virgin of Blacherna in Karkalou Gortynia and unveiling of a bust of blessed Archimandrite Ananias Koustenistranslated

July 4, 2026 · 1 min read

With particular splendor and in an atmosphere of deep emotion, on July 2, 2026, the memory of the Deposition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Blachernais was celebrated in the celebratory Church of the Virgin of Blacherna Karkalous Gortynia, whose founder was the blessed Archimandrite Fr. Ananias Koustenis. The holy services of Orthros and the Divine Liturgy were presided over by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Gortynos and Megalopolis Mr. Nikiforos, flanked by the General Hierarchal Commissioner Archim. Iosif Angelidis, the Professor of the Holy Monastery of Eimyalon Archim. Damascene Paganos, the Deacons Dimitrios Polychronopoulos and Georgios Iliopoulos, the Mayor of Gortynia Mr. Efstathios Koulis and a multitude of believers, who came to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and pray for their blessed spiritual father Ananias Koustenis.

In his sermon, His Eminence developed the deep theological meaning of the feast of the Deposition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, underlining that the Church does not just honor a sacred relic, but the uninterrupted maternal presence of the Virgin Mary in the life of God's people. Referring to the Kontakion of Orthros, he emphasized that the Most Holy Theotokos offers to...

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Евгения Козлова

It’s good that Father Aνανiya was remembered in his church. I read how he himself raised funds for construction in Caracalus, and now there are so many people there for the throne. I wonder if the icon that he brought from Athos was preserved?

Екатерина Волкова

Yes, it’s good that so many people gathered in his own church. I remember that Father Aνανiya himself actually went to parishes and collected money for construction in Karakalus, and did not sit still. And the icon from Athos, it seems, is the same one that hung above the altar, still there.

Стефан Ристески

Yes, it's nice that so many people gathered right in the church that Father Ananias himself built. I remember how he collected money in the parishes for Caracalus, he did not sit idly by. I wonder if the Aton icon he brought is still on the altar?

Снежана Стојановска

Yes, Stefan, I also remember how Father Anania personally collected in the villages, he did not wait for someone else to do it. The icon of Aten is still there above the altar, slightly darkened by the candle smoke, but we still see it every year at the festival. Did you attend any of those liturgies that he celebrated there?

Марина Андреева

Yes, I remember how Father Aνανiya personally came to us in Nizhny and talked about this church - not just collecting money, but so sincerely, with examples from life. The icon from Mount Athos is really the same one, I saw it last time when I was in Karakalus. Do you go there often now?

Ана Илиевска

Yes, Stefan, he didn't really sit at home, he also went up to the mountain villages with a bag of provisions. I remember how he once came to us in the infirmary after the service and told me that he needed another large rug for the altar. I saw the icon from Athos last year, it is there, but now there is also a new lamp that is lit only on the holiday. Were you at the unveiling of his bust?