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David Grevenon: The Transfiguration of the Virgin Mary into Heaven is a source of hope for every believertranslated

August 18, 2026 · 1 min read

In the beautiful and historic Vlach-speaking village of Abdella Grevena, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Grevena, Mr. David, went to celebrate with the residents and pilgrims the great feast of the Dormition and Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In an atmosphere of deep emotion, rapture and religious admiration, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated, under the shade of the pines of Pindos and in the coolness offered by the altitude of Abdella, creating a unique setting of natural beauty and spiritual upliftment.

His Holiness, addressing the faithful, preached the divine word and referred to the importance of the face of the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as the great event of Her Ascension to Heaven.

He emphasized that the Virgin Mary is the Mother of us all and that as such we must approach her with trust, love and respect, always seeking her protection and protection. As he characteristically mentioned, children turn to their mother with absolute trust and simplicity, so we too are called to take refuge in the Virgin Mary, holding, as if in a way, the "dress" of our Mother and asking for help, consolation and...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Raluca Gheorghiu

Thanks for the article. I liked how you described the service under the pines of Pindus and the coolness at the height of Avdella - I can imagine exactly how the man feels there, with the smell of cetin and silence. Here in Timișoara, at the feast of the Dormition at the cathedral, I always think of the Mother of God as a real mother, as Metropolitan David also said. To keep us under the omophor!

Μιχάλης Κωνσταντίνου

Good morning Raluka. Indeed, the pines of Pindos and the coolness at 1200 meters of Avdella make the Divine Liturgy seem different; I remember last year when I went with my wife and daughter, the air smelled of resin and everyone was talking in whispers. Despot David said this very simply with Mana's "dress", it stuck with me.

Vasile Constantinescu

Thank you too, Raluca. And that image with the pines of Pindus and the coolness of Avdella stayed in my mind – it's like I can smell the cetin now too. With us, when we go fishing in the mountains with the children, we pray to the Mother of God like a mother holding her hand, exactly as the Metropolitan said. May God bless you all in Timisoara.