The Great Supplication in the once shining Monastery of Panagia Galaktoktismine Rizatranslated

In a gloomy atmosphere, on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in the Holy Monastery of Panagia Galaktoktismines Riza of the Parish of Skordylos, Sitia, the service of the High Priestly Vespers and the Great Prayer Rule to the Blessed Virgin Mary was held, during which Rev. Metropolitan of Ierapytni and Sitia Mr. Kyrillos. In his sermon, His Holiness referred to the venerable Mother of God and the honor and reverence that Christians give to it, as well as their secret relationship with the Doom of the world. As he pointed out, in these days of the Fifteenth of August our sorrows and desires become a plea to our Virgin Mary and every time we turn to the maternal embrace and shelter of the Mother of God but our own spiritual Mother, she hears our secret sighs and transfers our requests to her Son and our God.

He also referred to the continuing old tradition, every year during the fifteenth of August, many believers come and participate in the services in this old church of the old Monastery of Panagia, called Galaktoktismene, because...