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The celebration of Saint Athanasios of Pario in his birthplacetranslated

July 2, 2026 · 1 min read

The memory of Saint Athanasios of Parios was celebrated with splendor in his birthplace, Kostos of Paros, centered on the Holy Church of the same name, during the two days of June 24 and 25, 2026. On the eve of the feast, the solemn Vespers of the Theophilist Bishop of Keramos, Mr. Bartholomeus, was celebrated, and he preached the divine word.

On the main day of the feast, the Orthros was celebrated, presided over by the Theophilest Bishop of Keramos, Mr. Bartholomew, and then the Solemn Divine Liturgy, presided over by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Paranaxia, Mr. Kallinikos.

A dozen Clergy participated in the Divine Liturgy, and the hymns were performed by the Hyeropsalti dance led by Mr. Angelos Cortiano.

The divine word was proclaimed by the Hierarch of our Holy Metropolis, Archimandrite Arsenios Mellisianos.

The local Authorities were present, led by the Mayor of Paros, Mr. Konstantinos Biza, and a number of pious believers.

Before the Dismissal, the Reverend Pastor presided over the annual Memorial of the late Evangelia Vionis-Anousakis, Presbyter of Rev. Protopresbyter Fr. Nikolaos Anoussakis with the participation of the Reverend Metropolitan Elder of Leontopolis, Mr. Gavriel, from...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (16) 🌐 Show original

Nicolae Gheorghiu

I stopped at the name of Archimantrite Arsenius Mellisian. It's a bit of an unusual name in the church, but it sounds nice. Please tell me if it is spelled correctly?

Григорий Макаров

Thank you for remembering St. Eugenia Vion-Anusaki. What an example her life is for us believers!

Alexandru Matei

Yes, the name is spelled correctly: Archimandrite Arsenie Melissianos. He's a good priest, our regular preacher at Paros, and he really sounds nice like you said. Have you heard of him at any job?

Simona Ciobanu

Yes, I heard him preach two years ago at a patronal service in Naoussa and I remembered the way he explained the Gospel simply, without flourishes. He really is one of those priests who make you listen carefully. Were you at Costos this year or did you just read?

Alexandra Rusu

Yes, I also heard Father Arsenie Melissianos two years ago at a service in Parikia, he explains exactly as you say, without flourishes. I especially liked how it connected the passage from the Gospel to the everyday life of the people here. Have you been listening to it a lot lately?

Alexandru Radu

Yes, it is spelled correctly, except that the Greek variant "Mellissianós" appears in the article. I heard him preach two years ago at a mass in Paros and he really has a calm, clear voice that grabs you. Where did you get his name from?

Elena Stoica

Yes, I also heard him preach a few years ago at a service in Paros, and I was really impressed by his calm, non-theatrical voice. I got the name from the Kostos parish bulletin, where it was written exactly like that. Were you at that liturgy in 2024 or earlier?

Anca Tudor

No, I didn't get to Costos this year, I just read the article. I liked what you said about Archimandrite Arsenius, that he explains the Gospel simply. At the job in Naoussa two years ago, were you with your family or alone?

Petru Dumitrescu

Yes, it is written correctly, but the usual Romanian form is Arsenie Melissianos. I also heard him preach a few years ago in Paros, right next to that little shrine in Kostos, and he spoke simply, without flourishes. Did you meet him in person or did you just read the name in the article?

Ilie Nistor

Yes, I also listened to Father Arsenie at Parikia two years ago, and exactly this simple way, without flourishes, remained in my mind. The connection it makes with everyday life is what helps the most. Have you been to any of his jobs since then?

Viorica Lungu

Yes, I too heard Father Arsenie at Parikia two years ago, just as simple and related to our daily affairs. I remembered how he talked about patience in the family, as if he was talking to us in the garden. Have you caught any of his sermons since then?

Gabriela Rusu

Yes, I also heard Father Arsenie in Parikia two years ago, he was talking about how to keep your temper when small troubles come, just like when the wind dries your tomatoes in the garden. His simple sermons helped me a lot at the services here in Craiova. Have you gotten any jobs with him since then?

Raluca Gheorghiu

Yes, the variant "Mellissianós" appears that way in the Greek text, but in our parish we mention him simply as Arsenie Mellisianos. I heard him for the first time at an evening service in Kostos three summers ago, and I remembered how he spoke of patience in adversity without raising his voice at all. Did you stay long in Paros when you listened to him?

Radu Constantinescu

Yes, I too heard Father Arsenie Mellisianos two years ago at a mass in Kostos; he spoke of patience in exactly the same even voice, as if he were telling how to clear a vineyard of weeds. I didn't stay long in Paros, only a week, but I also remembered how the trouble was connected to the morning prayer. Have you been there since then?

Andrei Constantinescu

No, I didn't go to Costos this year, I only read the article like you. I also like how Archimandrite Arsenius preaches, without flourishes, exactly as you say. Have you been to any of his other jobs on Paros?

Ilie Popa

No, I haven't been to Kostos since then, but I also remember Father Arsenie's calm voice - it was as if he was talking about patience the way my grandmother used to talk about watering basil. The connection he made between trouble and morning prayer has stuck with me, especially now in retirement when I have time to try it. What do you remember from that week in Paros?