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THE CELEBRATION OF THE DIVINE TRANSFORMATION 2026 AT THE I. MONASTERY OF THE GREAT SAVIOR SYMItranslated

August 6, 2026 · 1 min read

The great Despotic Feast of the Divine Transfiguration of Christ the Saviour, was celebrated again this year on Thursday, August 6, 2026, with due ecclesiastical splendor by the island of Symi, which boasts four churches. Monasteries and Churches that are honored on this great Despotic holiday. The center of Panigyreos certainly became the renovated I. Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Great Saviour, Symi, which for centuries has been part of the Holy Monastery of Panormitou and in which Rev. Our Metropolitan Mr. Chrysostomos, rector of the Panigyriks I. Follow-ups.

In the evening, on the evening of Wednesday August 5th, the eve of the holiday, the Great Solemn Evening Mass of Rev. Our Metropolitan Mr. Chrysostomos, flanked by Theophilus. Assistant to the Bishop of Rodostolo and Professor of I. Mr. Antonion of Panormitou Monastery and the priests of our island, Fr. Antonio Manias, Fr. Georgios Hatzichrisafis, Fr. Georgios Kakakios, Fr. Nikolaos Karmaniolos and the Hierodeacon Fr.

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Максим Лисенко

Glad to see that the monastery has become so beautiful again after the renovation. Metropolitan Chrysostomos together with Bishop Anthony and all the local priests - this service in the Catholicon on the eve of the holiday must have been special. Thanks for the photo, because I haven't been to Sima yet, but now I want to go and pray there.

Γιάννης Νικολαΐδης

Happy new year to Panagia Symi. The renovated monastery of Megalos Sotiros looks impressive, and Chrysostomos with Antonio and the priests of the island did a nice job at vespers. I would also like to see photos from the inside, because last year I passed by Symi but didn't have time to go up.

Daniel Lewis

The renovated monastery really stands out in those pictures. I noticed Bishop Antonios was there with Metropolitan Chrysostomos for the Great Vespers in the catholicon the night before – that must have been something to hear with all the local priests chanting together. Makes me wish I could have been on Symi for the feast this year.

Irene Anderson

The renovated monastery looks so much better now. I noticed Bishop Antonios was there with Metropolitan Chrysostomos and all those local priests for the Great Vespers the night before – must have been quite something in the catholicon. Thanks for the report, it makes me want to see the inside too.

Corina Stan

I was happy to read about the renovated monastery at Megalos Sotiros. It is nice that Metropolitan Chrysostomos served together with Bishop Antonios and all the local priests at the eve vespers in the catholicon. Maybe the next time we arrive with the family in the Dodecanese, we'll stop by Symi to see how it looks now.

Mihai Barbu

I'm also glad that they renovated the monastery, Corina. I heard from a friend who went to Symi last year that it looks much neater now, especially the catholicon. If you come with your family, let me know how it was compared to what it was before - I didn't get to see the old version.

Mark Johnson

The renovation certainly makes the monastery look fresh and inviting again. I especially liked how Bishop Antonios joined Metropolitan Chrysostomos with all five local priests and the deacon for that Vespers – the chanting in the catholicon must have carried right down the hill. Have you ever made it over to Symi for the feast?

Samuel Miller

The renovation really brought out the old stonework nicely. Bishop Antonios and Metropolitan Chrysostomos together with those four local priests made for a full chancel that evening. Have you been inside the catholicon since the work finished?

Simona Ciobanu

I'm glad that your friend has already seen the renovated monastery, Mihai. The Catholicon really looks much brighter now, with the painting cleaned and the iconostasis redone. Any idea if they changed the flooring too or just fixed what was broken?

Grace Bennett

The renovation does look lovely from the photos – that fresh white on the walls really stands out against the hillside. I’ve only been to Symi once, for the Panormitis feast, never managed the Transfiguration one yet. Did the chanting sound as good as it must have in the catholicon?