Celebration of the anniversary of the "Battle of Petra"translated

The anniversary of the historic Battle of Petra was celebrated with particular splendor on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Holy Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Ypsilanti, as part of the established "Ypsilanteia" events. The Most Reverend Metropolitan of Thebes, Mr. George, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Monastery, flanked by Clergy of the Holy Metropolis, the representatives of the authorities of the Region and a multitude of believers, who came to participate in this prayer meeting and to pay tribute to the memory of the fighters.

The divine word was preached by His Eminence Archimandrite Fr. Ieronymos Kyriazis, Regular Preacher of the Holy Metropolis, who referred to the deepest meaning of the Cross of Christ, as a revelation of divine love and sacrificial offering. Taking as a starting point the words of the Lord "Thus God loved the world", Father Jerome emphasized that God loves man by giving and that the Cross transforms the apparent end into life, defeat into victory and death into Resurrection.

Particularly essential was the connection he made between the message of the Cross and the historical memory of the Battle of Petra. As he pointed out, the Church does not glorify war either...