Lithuania: Visit of pilgrims from Trikala and the Patriarchal Exarch to historical Surdegistranslated

A group of pilgrims from Trikala visited the Center of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Lithuania, where they had the opportunity to get to know the presence and ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the country and to learn about the pastoral, spiritual and missionary work of the Exarchate. In the context of these days, the Patriarchal Exarch of Lithuania, Theophilestine Bishop of Tamissos Mr. Panaretos, also went to the historical Surdegis (Surdegiai), in the Anykščiai region, in order to visit the building complex of the old Orthodox monastery of the Holy Spirit, part of which has been granted for use by the Patriarchal Exarchate of Lithuania.

Surdegis is one of the historical places of Orthodoxy in Lithuania. The sources record an Orthodox presence in the area as early as the beginning of the 16th century, while the Monastery of the Holy Spirit developed over the following centuries into an important spiritual center. A source of the Patriarchal Exarchy states that from 1627 an Orthodox Monastery operated there under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, whose monastic life was interrupted after the departure of the monks in 1915.

A special place in the spiritual tradition of…