The Bishop of Kernitsis to I.N. Agios Alexios Filotheis of Patrastranslated

On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Most Reverend Bishop of Kernitsa, Mr. Chrysanthos, presided over the Holy Vigil at I.N. Agios Alexios Filotheis of Patras. In his short speech, Theophilastos said, among other things:

"My brothers, our Holy Church celebrates the Conception of the Holy Prophet Forerunner and John the Baptist.

The parents of the Holy Forerunner, Saint Zacharias and Saint Elizabeth, were childless and through prayer resort to the Holy God, to solve their childlessness.

Although they were advanced in age, God heard their prayers and gave them this blessed fruit, which became the Forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ. For God, there are no dead ends: "For where God wills, nature is defeated".

Saint John the Baptist came into the world to prepare people to receive the Lord.

This is the message our soul needs today. To prepare within ourselves a way for Jesus Christ. To cleanse our hearts of hatred, malice, pride and indifference and fill them with repentance, love, forgiveness and prayer.

But today, together with the Holy Forerunner, we also honor a new Saint...