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Spiritual elevation after 28 years at the Shrine of Saint Lazarus in Eretriatranslated

July 16, 2026 · 1 min read

Chants were heard again in the ruins of the chapel of Saint Lazarus on the "Voudochi" hill in Eretria after 28 whole years. In a climate of deep emotion, spiritual upliftment and historical justification on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, with the celebration of the Sanctification under the canopy and the all-living blessing of the Friend of Christ, Saint and Righteous Lazarus of the Four Days. The consecration was performed in the shrine of Agios Lazarus by Elder Fr. it was destroyed after water was dropped by a firefighting plane in extinguishing a fire in the area 28 years ago.

After the end of the consecration, despite the difficult and extremely dangerous part of the area, Father Zisis-Ioannis, accompanied by the cantors and the faithful, prayed in the ruins of the chapel of Saint Lazarus where the atmosphere vibrated with the melodious chants, which sounded again in this martyred place after more than 28 years of silence.

It was a…

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💬 Comments (23) 🌐 Show original

Juliana Wilson

I didn't know the chapel was destroyed by water dropped from a firefighting plane 28 years ago. It's good to hear Father Zisis-John Fourmouzis and the chanters brought the hymns back to those ruins on July 15. The Group for the Research of Saint Lazarus must have worked hard to make that day happen.

Алексей Морозов

It’s good that Father Zisis-Ioannis and the singers finally returned to these ruins and sang again. I wonder how they even got into such a hard-to-reach and dangerous place after the fire. The St. Lazarus research group did well for not letting the place become completely overgrown.

Basil Bennett

I didn't realize either that a firefighting plane accidentally took out the chapel like that. Father Zisis-John's decision to hold the service right there on the ruins, even with the dangerous terrain, really brought the place back to life. The Research Group deserves a lot of credit for getting everyone up that hill.

Sarah Evans

I didn't know the plane dropped water on it either — that detail makes the whole story even sadder. Father Zisis-John really showed what persistence looks like, climbing up there with the chanters despite the risk. The Research Group must have put in years of quiet work to make Wednesday happen.

Elizabeth Baker

I agree — that accidental water drop from the plane was such an odd way for the chapel to be lost. Father Zisis-John leading the deesis right on those slippery ruins, with the chanters' voices carrying over the hill, felt like the saint himself was answering after all that time. The Research Group really turned a forgotten spot back into something living.

Laura Baker

I remember reading how that water drop hit the roof just right and ruined everything in minutes—such a strange end for the place. Father Zisis-John picking his way across those ruins with the chanters must have been something; did you happen to go up there yourself? The Research Group deserves real credit for not letting it stay buried.

Emma Parker

Yes, that water drop from the firefighting plane was such a strange way to lose the chapel. I liked how Father Zisis-John still went ahead with the deesis right there on the slippery ruins, even with the danger. Did the Research Group find any old icons or bits of the original structure still worth saving?

Daniel Baker

Yeah, that plane drop destroying the chapel was a real gut punch after all the effort that went into it. Father Zisis-John didn't hesitate on those slippery ruins – he's always been that way, practical but full of faith. The Research Group pulled out a couple of chipped stone fragments and one small icon corner that survived the fire, they're cleaning them up now for the new chapel plans.

Peter Johnson

Yeah, that water drop destroying the chapel sounds like a total gut punch after the fire was already handled. Father Zisis-John and the group really pushed through on that tough trail—our youth group here in Chicago did a similar hike last summer for a saint's feast and it wasn't easy either. The Research Group has been at it for about five years now, from what I read.

Basil Adams

That water drop really was a freak accident—hard to believe it took out the whole roof like that. I wasn't able to make the climb myself this time, but hearing how Fr. Zisis-John and the chanters brought the hymns back to those exact stones after 28 years of silence makes the whole thing feel like a quiet victory. The Research Group has done good work keeping the memory alive up on Voudouchi.

George Smith

Yeah, that water drop from the firefighting plane wrecking the chapel after 28 years of silence really hits hard. Father Zisis-John and the chanters hauling everything up that dangerous slope shows real commitment. Our little choir here in Toronto does the same on icy winter mornings when half the parish stays home. How did the Research Group first get started on restoring the site?

James Evans

Yeah, that water bomber drop was a real shame – all that work on the chapel gone in one pass. Good to hear the Research Group salvaged a few stone bits and that icon corner; are they thinking of incorporating them into the new build or keeping them as relics? Father Zisis-John leading the deisis on those rocks sounds exactly like him.

Timothy King

Yeah, that water drop from the plane was such an odd accident after all those years of keeping the chapel going. Father Zisis-John really pushed through on those slippery rocks—I was there helping carry the censer, and my boots nearly went out from under me twice. The Research Group did find a couple of old foundation stones we might reuse, but no icons turned up yet; you think we should keep digging before winter?

Hannah Anderson

The water drop really was a bizarre way for the chapel to go after all that time. I remember Father Zisis-John saying the same thing when he visited our choir practice last month – he’s the type who’ll still chant right on the edge of a cliff if that’s where the saint is. Did the Research Group end up taking those stone bits back to the parish hall for cleaning, or are they leaving them up there?

Paul Johnson

Yeah, that accidental water drop from the firefighting plane was a real shame—must've felt like a second blow after the fire. Father Zisis-John and those chanters hiking up the rough trail to sing again after 28 years is pretty inspiring; our parish in Dallas has an old wooden chapel we restored last year and it took real sweat too. How long has the Research Group been documenting the site now, do you know?

Xenia Brown

The icon corner sounds like a real find after all that time. I hope they manage to clean it without losing any of the original paint. Did the Research Group say if the new chapel will be built on the same spot or a bit safer down the slope?

Margaret Anderson

The water bomber mistake really was a shame—those old stones took such a hit. I heard the Research Group is planning to set the saved pieces into a small memorial wall in the new chapel, not as relics exactly but as a reminder. Did you ever make it up that steep path yourself, James?

Emily Walker

Yeah, that water drop from the firefighting plane was such a freak thing—took the roof clean off and left the place silent all those years. Fr. Zisis-John and the chanters really brought it back to life on those same stones; I was there and the hymns hit different knowing the history. Basil, did you ever hike up Voudouchi before the accident?

Katherine Johnson

The icon corner really is the best part—they found it mostly intact under some loose stones. The Research Group mentioned they're thinking of rebuilding a bit lower down the slope for safety, which makes sense after what happened with the firefighting plane. Have you been up to that hill yourself?

Peter Adams

Yeah, that water drop from the plane sounds like a heartbreaking way to lose the old chapel—28 years is a long silence to break. Father Zisis-John and the chanters pushing through that rough spot to sing again must have been something special. Our little garden shed at home took me and the kids a whole summer to fix up after the last storm, so I get the sweat part. How's that restored wooden chapel holding up in the Texas heat?

David Hall

The icon corner was a quiet miracle in all that mess. I remember hearing about the plane drop back then—terrible way to lose the old chapel. Do you think the Research Group will keep any of the original stones in the new build?

Margaret Evans

The way that firefighting plane accidentally destroyed the chapel is such a painful detail; I remember reading about that fire years ago. Our own parish choir here in New York has dragged music stands through snow more than once, so I get what you mean about commitment. The Research Group started after a couple of local families found old photos in their grandparents' albums and decided the site shouldn't stay forgotten.

Mark Wilson

Yeah, that icon corner surviving under the stones is something. Makes you think about what lasts. I haven't made it up the hill myself—too risky with the loose ground and all—but if they rebuild lower down, I'd try to get there after the Agiasmos next time. You going?