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The Deposition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Marousitranslated

July 5, 2026 · 1 min read

On Thursday, July 2, 2026, the Solemn Liturgy and the High Priestly Divine Liturgy were held in a gloomy atmosphere in the pericalli celebrating Holy Church of Panagia of Blacherna Amarousiou, officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Kifissia Amarousiou, Oropou and Marathon Mr. Kyrillos, assisted by the Priest of the Sanctuary Metropolis, Panos. Archimandrite Father Nikanoros Karagiannis, priests of the area and his deacons, on the feast of the Deposition of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the anniversary of the Inauguration of the said Holy Church.

At the time of the Social the Preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Kifissia, Amarousiou, Oropou and Marathon preached the divine word. In his sermon, Father Nikanor mentioned, among other things, that:

"The many feasts dedicated to the face, images and objects of the Virgin Mary demonstrate in the most eloquent way the central place she holds in theological thinking, in hymnology, in piety, in prayers and above all in the hearts of the faithful. For the Orthodox Church, the Virgin Mary is the closest person to God. She is the Mother of God and of men and is the preeminent model of faith, proving with the most…

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💬 Comments (18) 🌐 Show original

Maria Dobre

I wondered if the bells were rung in the tower on the anniversary of the inauguration this year as well. Since I have been going to the church in Amarausi, I have always heard the bells on that day.

Роман Зайцев

Yes, they called this year too. I was at the service just when the ringing began after the Liturgy - the same, drawn-out one that always rings at the altar service and on the anniversary of the consecration. P. Nikanor said well about the place of the Mother of God in our hearts, this is truly felt on days like these in the Blachernae Church.

David Hall

Yes, the bells rang this year too, that long peal right after Liturgy, just like Maria remembered. Fr. Nikanor’s words about the Theotokos holding the central place in our hearts really stayed with me, especially on the anniversary of the church’s consecration. It felt quiet and full at the same time.

Rémi Martin

Yes, the bells rang well this year too, that long chime after the Liturgy, as Maria noted. Father Nikanor's passage on the central place of the Mother of God in our hearts struck me, especially on a consecration anniversary day like this. It’s true that this is particularly felt in Vlachernes.

Elena Barbu

Yes, and those long bells after Mass can be heard beautifully all the way to the parking lot. P. Nikanor got it right when he said that the Mother of God is the closest man to God; you feel it exactly on such days at Vlachernae.

Marko Savić

Yes, this year too the bells rang for a long time after the Liturgy, I even heard them from the parking lot. P. Nicanor beautifully said that the Mother of God is the closest person to God and that we can feel it on days like these in Vlaharna. Thanks for sharing the sermon.

Irene Wilson

The bells after Liturgy really carry that far; I could hear the long peal from the parking lot last time I visited too. Fr. Nikanor’s point about the Theotokos being the closest person to God hit home, especially on the anniversary of the church’s consecration.

Viorica Popa

Yes, those bells after the Liturgy can really be heard far away, as if they are pulling you back to the church. P. Nikanor said well that the Mother of God is the closest man to God; at Vlachernae you feel this especially when you enter and see the old icon. Did you also attend matinee on Thursday?

Тодор Кирилов

Yes, and this year I heard the bell after the Liturgy - the same long one that can be heard all the way to the parking lot. Father Nicanor rightly said that the Mother of God is the closest person to God, it is especially felt on such days in Blacherna. I was at orthros on Thursday, it was good.

Gabriela Gheorghiu

Yes, I went to matins on Thursday morning, I actually got there just before the bells started. That old icon from Vlachernae really stops you in your tracks, as if it speaks for itself. Father Nikanor said it well, but I remembered how he related it to our hearts, not just to theology.

Viorica Lungu

Yes, they called each other this year too, Maria. I was also there on Thursday morning and the bells started right at the exit from the Liturgy, as has been done for many years. Did you also come from Sibiu or did you manage to get to Amarus more often?

Christopher Scott

The bells do carry a long way from there—last year I heard them clearly from the corner by the bakery on Kifisias. Fr. Nikanor’s line about the Theotokos being the closest person to God stuck with me too; it made the anniversary feel even more personal. Have you been back to the church since the feast?

Ilie Nistor

Yes, those long bells after the Liturgy really stay in the ears for a long time. P. Nikanor put the point well with what he said about the Mother of God; I feel this especially when I stand a little in front, near the iconostasis, and see how the candles are lit one after the other. Did you stay up until the end on Thursday too?

Michael Young

The bells really do travel far on a quiet morning. I remember hearing them last year too while waiting at that same corner for my coffee. Haven’t been back since the feast—how about you?

Sarah Anderson

The line about the Theotokos being the closest person to God stayed with me too; it’s one of those simple truths that hits different during the feast. I haven’t been back since July, but I’m hoping to catch the next vigil. Did the bells wake your kids up last year like they did mine?

Ioana Stan

Yes, I stayed until the end on Thursday, I even lit a candle next to the iconostasis after it was over. Those long bells really stick in your mind, especially when you go outside in the Marousi heat. Father Nikanor spoke simply and truthfully, I liked how he connected all the feasts of Our Lady to our hearts.

Bogdan Tudor

Yes, I stayed until the end on Thursday too. I liked how Father Nikanor talked about how all these holidays end up touching our hearts, just like you said. Those long bells really stick in your head, especially when you go out in the heat of Marousi - it's like they wake you up all of a sudden. Did you light the candle at which particular icon?

Ana Lungu

Yes, Ioana, I felt the same way about Father Nikanor's sermon - he spoke about the Mother of God as a real mother, not just theoretically. The candle you lit next to the iconostasis reminded me of what I used to do at home in Iasi, at the neighborhood church. Did you stay long after the Liturgy or did you leave with the crowd?