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The Regional Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnautakis, at the Epiphany of the Catholicos at the Koudoumas Monasterytranslated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

The Prefect of Crete, Stavros Arnautakis, attended the closing ceremony of the new Holy Church of Saints Parthenios and Eumenios, in the historic Koudoumas Monastery in the south of Heraklion. The religious events culminated on Friday, July 10, 2026, the day of the feast of the Holy and God-bearing Fathers, who are the New Founders of the Holy Monastery.

Metropolitans Makarios of Gortyn and Arcadia, Kyrillos of Ierapytni and Sitia, as well as Ioakeim of Lampis, Syvritos and Sfakion participated in the Solemn High Priestly Mass, which was held in the new Holy Church.

During the events, the relevant Metropolitan, as well as the Abbot of the Monastery, Archimandrite Makarios, expressed their warm thanks to the Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnautakis for the overall contribution of the Region of Crete to the local church, but also for the continuous support he provides to the monastery.

The post The Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnautakis at the Catholic Vigil in Koudouma Monastery appeared first on Orthodox News Agency.

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (18) 🌐 Show original

Sarah Scott

What a beautiful feast day for the new church. The presence of three metropolitans together with the abbot Archimandrite Makarios must have made the liturgy feel especially solemn. Glad the Region of Crete keeps supporting the monastery like that.

Basil Young

Nice to see the new church finally open after all the work. The three metropolitans plus the abbot did make the liturgy feel weighty, especially on the saints’ own day. The Region’s support has been steady over the years, that’s true.

Mark Baker

The new church for Saints Parthenios and Eumenios sounds like a proper milestone for Koudoumas. Good to see the three metropolitans — Makarios, Kyrillos and Ioakeim — concelebrating right on their feast day, and the Region of Crete chipping in again. Steady support over the years makes a real difference out there.

Elizabeth Hall

The new church for Saints Parthenios and Eumenios at Koudoumas sounds like a proper milestone, especially on their own feast day. Good to see Metropolitans Makarios, Kyrillos and Ioakeim all there with Abbot Makarios. The Region of Crete’s steady help over the years is worth a quiet thank you.

Кирил Стоянов

I am glad that on the feast of Saints Parthenius and Eumenius themselves they opened the new church in Kudumas. It is good that all three metropolitans - Macarius, Cyril and Joakim - were there together with the abbot Archimandrite Macarius. Apparently the area of Crete continues to help the monastery, as everyone writes.

Rebecca Smith

The new church for Saints Parthenios and Eumenios opening right on their feast day at Koudoumas sounds like a proper milestone. Good to see Metropolitans Makarios, Kyrillos and Ioakeim concelebrating with Abbot Archimandrite Makarios, and the Region of Crete still backing the monastery after all these years.

Margaret Evans

The new church turned out so well, especially with the feast falling right on the saints’ day. I’m always glad when the abbot gets that kind of backing; he’s put years into the place. Have you been down to Koudouma yourself?

Георги Иванов

It is good that they opened the new church on the feast of Saints Parthenius and Eumenius. The three metropolitans together with the abbot Archimandrite Macarius must have made the service particularly solemn. The area of Crete clearly does not forget the monastery, well done.

Sarah Moore

The new church for Saints Parthenios and Eumenios opening right on their feast day at Koudoumas is a real milestone. Nice that Metropolitans Makarios, Kyrillos and Ioakeim concelebrated with Abbot Archimandrite Makarios, and that the Region of Crete keeps helping the monastery after all these years. Have any of you visited the south coast of Heraklion lately?

Alexander Turner

Yes, the timing on the feast day itself made it feel especially fitting. The abbot Archimandrite Makarios has put a lot of quiet work into that place over the years, so it's good the regional support is finally showing up in bricks and mortar too. Have you been down to Koudoumas since the new catholicon opened?

Xenia Bennett

Yes, the feast day timing felt just right. I haven't made it down to Koudoumas since the new catholicon opened, though I keep meaning to combine it with a visit to the south coast. Has the new church changed the feel of the monastery much in daily use?

Laura Clark

The new catholicon sits so naturally against the old walls that daily services still feel quiet and intimate, not grand at all. I was there last month for a weekday vespers and you’d hardly know it was only finished a year ago. Have you tried the path down from the monastery to the beach yet? The sea looks even better after the climb back up.

Emma Parker

Yes, the timing with the saints’ day made it feel just right. I haven’t made it down to Koudouma yet, but my older daughter went a few years back and still talks about how peaceful the monastery sits there by the sea. The abbot really has given that place his whole life, hasn’t he?

Christopher Moore

The timing on the feast day of Saints Parthenios and Eumenios really tied it all together nicely. I didn't realise the Region of Crete had been quietly backing the monastery for so long; that's the sort of steady support that actually lasts. Did you ever get down to Koudoumas yourself?

Grace Bennett

The timing did feel spot on, especially with the feast falling on a Friday. The new catholicon hasn’t altered the quiet rhythm much; weekday liturgies still draw the same small handful of us. Have you been to the monastery’s little guesthouse kitchen after vespers for their lentil soup? It’s worth the trip on its own.

Photini Brown

The timing on their feast day really makes it feel right, doesn't it? I remember when the old catholicon was barely holding up — nice to see the Region of Crete helping keep the place going instead of letting it fade. Have you ever made the trip down to Koudoumas yourself?

Michael Turner

The new catholicon blending in so well makes sense; I remember the old one felt the same way, like it had always been there. Haven’t done that beach path yet, but the climb back up sounds like the perfect excuse for a strong Greek coffee afterward. Did you catch any of the services during the July feast?

Xenia Walker

The new catholicon really does look like it belongs there, same as the old one. I was at the feast-day liturgy on the 10th and the singing in that space felt especially full. Have you tried the path from the monastery down to the beach? The climb back is no joke, but the view makes the coffee at the top taste even better.