The Metropolitan of Neapolis in the Holy Church of Agia Paraskevi Xirokrinitranslated

In the elegant Holy Church of Agia Paraskevi Xirokrini, which graciously welcomes those entering Thessaloniki from the west, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, Mr. Varnavas, officiated on Sunday, September 6, 2026, as on the same day the Local Church established the commemoration of Saint Athanasios Koulakiotis, whose part of the relic is stored in the Holy Church.

His Eminence Archimandrite Fr. Iakovos Kyzirides, referring to the Gospel passage, clearly and lucidly analyzed the importance of God's personal invitation to salvation.

"God calls us all. God does not discriminate. The invitation is free. Responding to it, however, comes at a cost. The response presupposes a "wedding garment." We put on the wedding garment in the Sacrament of Baptism. The "marriage garment is Christ: those who were baptized into Christ, put on Christ".

Then the speaker referred to the celebrated Saint Athanasios Koulakiotis who was born in Koulakia and was a student of Saint Athanasios of Pario. He was martyred on September 8, 1774 at the age of only 25.

After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the...