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Rethymno Prodromos: Vangelis Giakoumakis, 11 years later, continues to illuminate even the darkest timestranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

For one more year, on July 7th, the day on which the late Vangelis Giakoumakis was baptized in the holy pool of our faith, we all met together at the "House of Vangelis", at the Holy Church of the Holy Martyr Evangelos, Bishop of Kostanza, whose memory is commemorated annually on the same day. In this "House" erected in his memory by the family of the late Vangelis, together with Vespers, the Memorial Service was held, declaring that we do not forget the sacrifice of a child who, through his silent silence, gave a voice and messages of life to thousands of people.

Rev. Metropolitan of Rethymno and Avlopotamos Mr. Prodromos officiated at Vespers, assisted by clergy of the Holy Metropolis, next to the parents of blessed Evangelos, Andreas and Maria Giakoumakis, his siblings, relatives and a multitude of friends who came without invitations, but by the invitation of love and honor in memory of Vangelis, 11 years after his martyrdom sacrifice.

At the request of His Eminence, Panosiol preached the Divine Word inspired. Chief Theologos Papalevyzakis, Abbot-adviser of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegian Monastery of Arkadiou, the...

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Максим Васильев

I remember reading about Vaggelis several years ago. His parents Andrei and Maria gather everyone every year without invitations, just out of love - it’s strong. May his memory continue to help, especially when it is dark around.

Maria Florea

I too read Vaggelis's story a few years ago. I remembered how his parents, Andreas and Maria, set up the "Vaggelis House" every year without sending invitations, just out of love, just like it says here. It's a simple and powerful thing at the same time.

Степан Попов

I remember this story too. Yes, Andrey and Maria do this every year - no fuss, they just open the doors and people come themselves. In our parish in Samara, this also happens after services, when we gather without formalities. In what year did you first read about him?

Татьяна Михайлова

I remember reading about Vaggelis several years ago. It’s good that Andrey and Maria just open “Spiti tu Vaggeli” every year without invitations, and people come themselves - it’s for real. We also often gather like this after Vespers, without any fuss.

Михайло Бойко

I remember reading about Vaggelis a few years ago. It is good that Andrew and Maria simply open "Σπίτι του Βαγγέλη" every year without invitations, and people come themselves, as written. This often happens with us after the vespers too, without too much fuss.

Соломія Панченко

I remember reading about Vangelis a few years ago. It's good that Andriy and Maria simply open "Σπίτι του Βαγγέλη" every year without invitations, and people themselves come for love, as it is written here. We also often get together like this after the evening meal.

Сергій Лисенко

Yes, it's good that there are no invitations - just the door is open, and people go by themselves, as if to themselves. It's often like this after Vespers: it's quiet, without fuss, and the church is full. And in which parish do you serve, Mykhailo?

Ірина Шевченко

Yes, Solomia, it is good that Andriy and Maria do not arrange formal invitations, but simply open the door. In our parish, after vespers, we also often stay to talk, without rushing, and it is the most sincere. Have you read his letters or a book about him?

Юлія Гончар

Yes, that's how it should be - the door is open, and people leave because the heart is calling. At Saltivka, after vespers, a lot of people often quietly gather, without any invitations. What church are you in, Serhiy?

Світлана Коваленко

Yes, indeed, when the door is simply open, sincere people come, without too much fuss. In Saltivka, after vespers, it often happens like that too - it's quiet, and the church is full. And you, Serhiy, in which district of Kharkiv?

Соломія Кузьменко

It's good that the family keeps the door open so simply, without any invitations. After vespers in Poltava, people often come by themselves, especially when the garden near the church is blooming. And you, Mykhailo, in which church do you go?

Христина Петренко

Yes, a door open without fuss is the best invitation. In Lviv, people often come in after vespers just like that, especially when it's cold or raining. And you, Svetlana, have you been in Saltivka for a long time?

Наталія Панченко

Yes, Julia, the heart really calls, without invitations. In our Lviv church in honor of St. Yuri, people also often stay after vespers just to stand and pray. And what kind of church do you have in Saltivka, where they gather like that?

Петро Мороз

Yes, Yulia, the heart is calling — and this is the best invitation. In our Poltava Church of the Holy Martyr Evangel, even after the evening, people stay, just to stand in silence. And in Saltivka, do you have a church where people gather like that?

Іван Коваленко

It is good that the Giacoumakis family keeps the door open like this - it is truly Christian. Here in Kyiv, after vespers in the church on Podil, people often stop by just like that, especially when the chestnuts are in bloom. And you, Solomia, in which church in Poltava do you go?

Іван Савченко

It's good that the family keeps the door open like that, it's really Christian. In Kharkiv, after vespers in the church on Pavlovo Pole, people also often drop by just like that, especially when the linden trees are in bloom. And you, Ivan, which church do you visit in Podil?

Максим Мельник

Yes, Natalia, the heart really calls without invitations. After the vespers in the church in honor of the holy martyr Yevgeny Kozantiysky, we often have a few people stay in Saltivka to pray in silence. And in your Lviv church of St. Yuri, there are often so many people after the service?

It is good that the Giacoumakis family keeps the door open, it is truly Christian. Many people also come to us after the vespers at Pavlovo Pole, especially when the linden trees are in bloom and the smell fills the whole yard. And you, Ivan, do you often visit the church in Podil on such summer evenings?

Соломія Ткаченко

Yes, Peter, the heart really calls, without any invitations. In Saltivka, they gather in the church of the holy martyr Eustafius - after vespers, many people stay to pray in silence, especially the elderly. And in your Poltava Church of the Holy Evangelist, does this often happen, or only on memorial days?

Yes, Peter, in our church of the Holy Martyr Evangel, after vespers, quite a few grandparents really often stay, just to stand. Especially in winter, when the house is cold, and the church is quiet and warm from the candles. And do you often go to Saint Eustafius in Saltivka?

Юлія Шевчук

It is good that the Giacoumakis family keeps the door open like this, it is truly Christian. In Lviv, after vespers in the church on Sikhiv, people also often drop in just like that, especially when the lilacs are in bloom. And you, Ivan, have you been in Kyiv on Podil for a long time?

Yes, Maria, here in Saltivka, in the church of St. Eustafius, people often stay after the evening, put a candle and just keep silent. It started even before the war, when the father began to read more often about Vaggelis in needlework classes. And in Poltava, do many people cry after such a reading, or on the contrary, do they become calmer?