High priest Vespers at the celebratory Holy Church of Prophet Ilias of Sykia, Sitiatranslated

On the evening of Sunday July 19, 2026, the Great High Priestly Vespers of the feast of the holy glorious Prophet Helios of Thesvitos was celebrated with particular splendor in the celebratory Holy Church of the same name of the Parish of Sykia, Sitia, which is located on the top of a hill west of Sykia with a panoramic view of the wider area. The service was officiated by Rev. Metropolitan of Ierapytni and Sitia, Mr. Kyrillos, who blessed the breads and preached the divine word on time, speaking eloquently about the life, action and personality of the great Prophet.

In particular, His Eminence made special reference to the miraculous events of the Vespers Readings of the holiday, to the prayer of the Prophet who kept the heavens closed for three and a half years for the sins of the people and the rain that followed after his own prayer, to his staying close to the poor widow and feeding them with divine intervention, to the resurrection of her dead son, to his refuge in the torrent Horath, where he was fed by the raven sent by God, to the control of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, to the extermination of the false prophets of the god Baal at Mount Carmel, where he became…