Thousands gather for Festive Vespers honoring Saint Demetrius in Thessaloniki

A solemn Hierarchical Great Vespers service was celebrated at the Church of Saint Demetrius in Thessaloniki on Sunday evening, October 25, 2026, on the eve of the feast of Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer, the city’s patron saint.

The service was presided over by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Kyrenia, with numerous Orthodox hierarchs, priests and deacons participating in the celebrations.

Among the concelebrating hierarchs were Metropolitans Chrysostomos of Chalkida, Chrysostomos of Patras, Chrysostomos of Nikopolis and Preveza, Georgios of Kitros, David of Grevena, Stefanos of Philippi, Ieronymos of Larissa, Platon of Langadas, Amphilochios of Thera and Damaskinos of Velestino.

Several bishops also attended, including Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Nikiforos of Amorion, Eirinaios of Rhegion, Christodoulos of Magnesia, Bartholomew of Brisbane, Nifon of Mahajanga and Northern Madagascar, Kallinikos of Asterion and Christodoulos of Neochori.

Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki also participated in the service, while Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras delivered the sermon.

Before the beginning of Vespers, large crowds of faithful filled the Church of Saint Demetrius to…