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Seraphim of Kythira: "The home church" should function in every Christian familytranslated

September 5, 2026 · 1 min read

A Pastoral Circular for the start of the new Ecclesiastical Year, which began on September 1, 2026 and will end on August 31, 2027, was issued by the Metropolitan of Kythera and Antikythera, Mr. Seraphim, addressing the holy clergy and the faithful people of the Holy Metropolis. In his encyclical, His Holiness wishes the new Ecclesiastical Year to be a period of spiritual renewal, repentance and man's return to God, specifically emphasizing: "Blessed by the Lord of glory may our entry into the new Ecclesiastical Year be [...] and may we depart blessed, peaceful towards God, a year of repentance and spiritual renewal".

He makes special reference to the importance of the liturgical circle of the Church, through which the believer is called to connect more deeply with Divine Worship and the persons the Church honors. As he notes, "the annual cycle of the Despotic and Theotokos feasts and the feasts of the Saints [...] connects us primarily with Divine Worship", which is "the center of the Holy Spiritual life of Orthodox Christians".

On the occasion of the upcoming feast of the Nativity of the Virgin, the Metropolitan of Kythera and Antikythera, Mr.

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Григорий Голубев

Thank you, Master Seraphim. It’s especially good that they reminded us about “κατ’ οίκον εκκλησία” - in my house with my late mother we always tried to at least read the evening prayer together, but now I’m left alone, sometimes I’m lazy. This rule must be introduced again from September 1st.

Emily Baker

The bit about the “κατ’ οίκον εκκλησία” hit home. My roommate and I started lighting a candle and reading the evening prayers together a couple months ago after our youth group talk, and it really does make the day feel different. I need to stick with it through this new church year instead of letting it slide when work gets busy.

Екатерина Попова

Thank you, Gregory. For me, too, after the death of my husband, at first everything went wrong with prayer at home, and then I slowly returned at least the “Our Father” and “Virgin Mother of God” in the evening before the icons. Try to start small so you don't break down. Do you sometimes take your grandchildren to live with you? Maybe it will be easier to keep the rule together with them.

Василий Тарасов

Thank you, Ekaterina. For me, too, after my wife was seriously ill, prayer at home at first completely went wrong - I only held on in church. And then I at least began to read the “Our Father” and the troparion of the day aloud at dinner, and it really became easier. Do you often visit your grandchildren or do you communicate more by phone?