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Metropolitan Eirenaeus of Florina in Alexandroupolistranslated

July 12, 2026 · 1 min read

On the Twelfth Sunday of Matthew, July 12, 2026, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Eirenaeus of Florina, Prespa, and Edessa celebrated the Divine Liturgy, with the permission of the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Alexandroupolis, Bishop Anthimus, at the Holy Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Alexandroupolis. Metropolitan Eirenaeus was in Alexandroupolis, where the previous day he celebrated the Mystery of Marriage with the Metropolitan of Alexandroupolis, Bishop Anthimus, for a relative of his. During the Divine Liturgy, the faithful of the parish gathered, greeting our Metropolitan with special joy and expressing their love for him. At the beginning of his homily, he warmly thanked the local Metropolitan for granting permission to celebrate at the Metropolitan Cathedral and praised God for the blessing of being present once again at the Holy Church of St. Nicholas and meeting familiar and beloved faces. Referring to the Gospel passage concerning the healing of the paralytic, he emphasized that Christ, seeing the faith of the sick man and those who brought him, first forgave his sins and then healed his body, revealing through the miracle the...

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Павел Соколов

I am glad to see that Bishop Irenaeus has again visited the Church of St. Nicholas in Alexandroupolis. It’s good that before this, he and Metropolitan Anfim married his relative together. And the sermon about the forgiveness of sins before the healing of a paralytic was the most important thing that was remembered.

Daniel Lewis

Είναι όμορφο που ο Μητροπολίτης Ειρηναίος ξαναβρέθηκε στον Άγιο Νικόλαο Αλεξανδρουπόλεως και μάλιστα μετά το γάμο του συγγενή του μαζί με τον Άνθιμο. Το κομμάτι που είπε για τη συγχώρεση των αμαρτιών πριν την ίαση του παραλυτικού μου έμεινε κι εμένα· δείχνει καθαρά πού βάζει πρώτα ο Χριστός.

Ειρήνη Αντωνίου

I am glad that the despot Irenaios was found again in Agios Nikolaos and even after the marriage of his relative with Anthimos. His sermon on the forgiveness of sins before the healing of the paralytic made an impression on me, as did the two commenters. He always says something simple but meaningful.

Παναγιώτης Κωνσταντίνου

It's good that the despot Irenaios was found again in Agios Nikolaos after the marriage of his relative with Anthimos. That Christ first forgave sins and then healed the body is what stays with me every time I hear this passage. Simple and essential.

Μαρία Θεοδώρου

Yes, I agree, that "forgiveness first" is what sticks with me too. Last year when we had a similar cut in the oven after the service, a lady was telling me that it gave her courage to go to confession first before the operation. How do you apply it in your daily life?

Paul Smith

Yeah, that bit about forgiveness coming first really stuck with me too. It’s a good reminder that the Lord sees the deeper need before the obvious one. Did you catch what he said right after about the friends lowering the paralytic through the roof?

Emily Clark

Yes, that part about the friends lowering him through the roof always gets me too. It shows how persistent love can open a way when the door is blocked. The Metropolitan tied it nicely to how our own small acts of faith can bring someone else right to Christ’s feet.

Sophia Bennett

That roof detail really sticks with me too, Emily. I keep thinking about the sheer effort of hauling a grown man up those stairs on a stretcher. Makes me wonder if we’d go to that much trouble for a neighbor here in Wichita when life gets jammed up. Good point about the small acts of faith.

Paul Davis

That roof detail hits hard, doesn't it? I was thinking the same thing driving home from church last Sunday—how often I let "it's too much hassle" stop me from helping even a friend in Toronto who's struggling. Makes the friends in the Gospel look pretty heroic. What do you think finally pushed them to go that far?

Anthony Collins

The part about forgiving the sins first really hit me too — it's a reminder that the deeper healing often starts inside, even before the obvious problem gets fixed. I wonder if the Metropolitan mentioned anything about how that changes the way we pray for people who are stuck in their own "paralysis." Thanks for sharing what stood out to you, Emily.

Nicholas Morris

Yes, that bit about the friends lowering the man through the roof always stands out to me too. It makes you realise real love doesn’t just pray from a distance; it gets its hands dirty and finds another way in. Did the Metropolitan say anything about how that kind of persistence might look in our own parish life here?

Margaret Adams

The Metropolitan did touch on that — he said the friends’ persistence is exactly what “bearing one another’s burdens” looks like in practice, not just nice words on Sunday. In our parish that might mean actually showing up with a meal or a ride instead of only texting “I’m praying for you.” Have you seen that kind of hands-on help make a difference for anyone here lately?

George Miller

The forgiveness-before-healing bit stood out to me too. I remember the Metropolitan saying it shows Christ cares about the root cause first, so maybe when we pray for someone stuck like that we should start by asking God to sort their heart and any hidden sins instead of jumping straight to the outward fix. Do you find that changes how you pray for family or friends who seem “paralysed” in some way?

Yes, that part always strikes me too. When my wife was bedridden those last years I started praying first for whatever bitterness or old grudges might still be weighing on her, just like you said, before asking for easier breathing or less pain. It did shift things; sometimes the peace came even when the body stayed stuck. Have you noticed the same with your own people?

George Evans

Yes, Daniel, that hits home. I saw something similar when my own sister was laid up after her stroke—started praying for her to let go of old family resentments first, and the calm that followed was real, even if her legs never got better. Did your wife ever mention feeling that shift herself, or was it mostly something you observed?

Samuel Mitchell

Yes, Daniel, that rings true. I remember my mother-in-law's last stretch after her hip surgery— we'd pray first for her to drop the old anger she carried toward her brother, and the quiet that settled on her was noticeable even on the bad pain days. Did that peace in your wife seem to open the door for her to talk about forgiveness more freely?

Yes, Daniel, that tracks with what I've seen too. My mother-in-law had the same pattern near the end—once we started praying for her to release the old grudge against her sister-in-law, the restlessness eased even though the arthritis stayed bad. Did you find any particular psalm or Gospel verse that helped you stay focused on the forgiveness part first?

Basil Adams

Yeah, that tracks with what the bishop was getting at—forgiveness before the physical fix. My mother-in-law had a similar thing years back after her hip replacement; once she finally dropped a grudge against her old neighbor, the pain eased enough that she could garden again without wincing. Did the calm with your sister stick around long-term, or did the family stuff creep back in?

Irene Collins

Yes, that rings true about tackling the grudge first. My late husband found real peace in Psalm 51 near the end—kept it on the bedside table and we'd read a few verses together when the pain made him restless. Did the arthritis ease at all for your mother-in-law once the forgiveness settled in?

James Campbell

That makes sense, George. I remember praying that way for my late wife too, starting with whatever old anger she carried from her nursing days. It felt more honest. Have you noticed any difference when you pray for your own kids that way?

Mary Adams

Yeah, that rings true. I do the same with my two boys—start with the everyday stuff like school stress or leftover squabbles from last week instead of jumping straight to the big prayers. It does feel more real that way. Have you found it changes how you listen for answers after?

Daniel Davis

Yeah, that sounds about right. With my wife it was the same – once the resentment started lifting after we prayed about it, she actually brought up old stuff with her dad without me prompting. Did your mother-in-law end up mending things with her brother in the end, or was the peace mostly inward?

Nicholas Turner

Yeah, that tracks with what I've seen too. My grandma had a similar thing after her knee replacement—once we prayed for her to let go of that grudge against her old neighbor, the physical therapy actually started sticking better. Samuel, did the anger ever fully clear for your mother-in-law, or did it come back in waves?

Yeah, forgiveness does seem to unblock the body in ways we don't expect. My wife saw something like that years back with her arthritis—once she finally dropped a long-held resentment toward her sister, the swelling eased up enough that she could walk the park loop again without as much pain. Nicholas, did your grandma's knee ever give her trouble after that, or did the improvement hold?

Emily Walker

Yeah, starting with the grudge makes sense—Christ went straight to the forgiveness before the physical healing. My own mother-in-law’s arthritis did loosen up a bit once she let go of that old family bitterness; she even started coming to Saturday vespers again. Did your husband have a favorite verse in Psalm 51 that helped him most?

Yes, that rings true. In our case the forgiveness seemed to open the door for her to finally talk to her brother after years of silence, and they did patch things up enough to sit together at Christmas. Did the resentment lift gradually for your wife, or was there one particular prayer that seemed to shift it?

Christopher Moore

Yeah, forgiveness often seems to hit the body harder than we expect. My mother-in-law’s hands loosened up enough after she finally let that old grudge go that she could knead dough again for her koulouria without complaining. Did your husband have one particular verse from Psalm 51 he kept coming back to?

Helen Anderson

The forgiveness came first for us too, but it was more like chipping away at it week after week in confession and during evening prayers. One thing that helped was my wife starting to light a candle for her sister every time she went to church, even before she felt like it. Did the brother reach out first, or did your wife finally pick up the phone?

Matthew Young

Yeah, that bit about forgiveness first really hits home. My late wife used to say the same thing about her own grudges and how they'd tie her up worse than any fishing knot. Did your mother-in-law ever mention which part of the Gospel story stuck with her most after that?

Daniel Wilson

Yeah, that order—forgiveness before the physical healing—always makes me pause too. My mother-in-law used to say the same about the friends lowering the man through the roof; she figured real faith looks like that kind of stubborn carrying. Did your wife ever talk about how she finally let go of those grudges?

Photini Brown

The forgiveness came first in our family too, but it took my sister-in-law almost a year before she could sit in the same room without her jaw tightening. What finally helped her was baking her brother’s favourite koulourakia and quietly leaving them on his doorstep one name-day. Did your wife ever find a small gesture like that that made the next step easier?

Matthew Thomas

The part about the candle really stuck with me—my roommate’s mom does the same thing for her estranged brother, lights one every Sunday even when she’s still mad. In our case the brother reached out first with a short text after years of silence, but it was my wife who had been chipping away at her side in confession for months before that. Did the candle routine eventually lead your wife to call?

Michael Smith

Yeah, that line about grudges tying you up like a fishing knot rings true—my own father-in-law used to joke that holding onto one was like keeping a snag in your line all day. My mother-in-law always came back to the part where the friends wouldn't quit, saying that's what got the Lord's attention before anything else. Did your wife ever say what finally loosened those knots for her?

Gregory Taylor

Yeah, that tracks with what my own mother-in-law said too. The resentment lifted gradually for us, mostly through quiet evening prayers together over a couple of months, not one big moment. In the end her brother and her never fully reconciled on the old argument, but she was able to be civil at family gatherings without the old knot in her stomach. How long did it take for your wife before she brought it up?

Anna Parker

Yes, the forgiveness definitely came before any real change in her. For us it was gradual too, but one thing that seemed to move it along was when she started praying the Jesus Prayer while she folded his old letters she’d kept in a box. Did the patching up with her brother stick, or did old stuff creep back in after the holidays?

Emma Baker

The candle idea makes sense—my own mom lit one weekly for her uncle she hadn’t spoken to in fifteen years, and it finally thawed things enough for a Christmas card. In our family the sister reached out first with a short voicemail, but it was the steady confessions that really chipped away the old grudges. How long did it take your wife before she stopped feeling fake lighting that candle?

Luke Campbell

Yeah, that part about the Lord seeing their faith and forgiving first always gets me too. My wife Elena used to say the same thing whenever she’d let go of some old hurt from her family back in Greece. Did your mother-in-law ever say what finally helped her drop those grudges for good?

Sophia Moore

My mother-in-law did something like that after a big family rift. She showed up at our door one Saturday with a tray of fresh spanakopita still warm from the oven, no big speech, just “thought you might like these.” It cracked the ice better than any talk could. Did your sister-in-law ever tell her brother why the koulourakia worked so well?

Rebecca Parker

My mother-in-law’s spanakopita trick sounds just right – quiet and practical. Our sister-in-law never did explain the koulourakia magic, but she did admit later she’d added a pinch of orange zest that morning on a whim. Funny how something so small can shift the whole room, isn’t it?

Sarah Moore

My aunt did something similar with a candle for her brother after a big fallout—took about two years before she stopped feeling like she was just going through the motions. The steady part really does wear down the resentment, like water on stone. Did your mom ever say what finally made the voicemail click for her sister?

Yeah, the steady part is what counts—my wife said it took her about six months before the candle stopped feeling forced, and then one Sunday she just prayed for her dad without overthinking it. Funny how the resentment fades when you keep showing up. Did your mom ever mention if the voicemail came before or after that Christmas card?

My mother-in-law brought koulourakia too after one of those long silences, but she left them on the porch with a note that just said “for the grandchildren.” Never mentioned the fight. Did yours ever bake anything with your husband’s favourite filling to smooth things over?

The part about forgiving sins first really hits home for me too, especially watching how it plays out in family life. My mother-in-law held onto some old grudges from her side for years until a long talk during one of our hiking trips in the hills outside Dallas finally loosened things; she said it was remembering the priest's words on letting Christ handle the root cause instead of just the symptoms. Did Elena ever mention anything specific that helped her move past those family hurts from Greece?

Mark Parker

My wife Mary said something similar—took her a good while before lighting that candle for her brother felt like second nature instead of a chore. She figured the resentment left once she stopped keeping score. Never heard about a voicemail though; was that after the card or before?

Anna Moore

My mother lit the candle for her sister every Sunday for years, but the real shift came after she started knitting a scarf for the niece while she prayed. The voicemail arrived a couple of weeks after that Christmas card, and she said hearing the voice made the forgiveness feel concrete instead of just words. Funny how those small habits pile up.

Gregory Mitchell

Yeah, that six-month mark rings true—my wife mentioned something like that too when she started lighting one for her uncle after their fallout. The voicemail came after the Christmas card in our case; hearing it out loud seemed to cut through the last bit of awkwardness. Did that steady habit end up changing how your wife talks about her dad now?

Elizabeth Baker

My mother did something similar with her prayer shawl for my aunt—every row she knitted was a specific name or memory. That voicemail part really hits home; it's like the tangible thing finally lets the forgiveness land in your hands instead of floating somewhere abstract. Did your mother ever finish the scarf?

Helen Baker

My husband John said almost the exact same thing about his sister’s funeral flowers last year — the resentment faded once he quit tracking who owed what. The voicemail came after the card for us; it was the last little push that made the forgiveness feel real instead of forced. Did Mary ever mention what finally flipped the switch for her?

My mum never quite finished the scarf – she got to the last few rows and then kept adding “just one more row for the cousins” until it turned into a blanket! The prayer-shawl idea is lovely though; I can see how each stitch would make the names feel held. Did your aunt ever get to wear it?