Neo Prokopion, September 30, 2014
Celebrations dedicated to the great ascetic, Saint Righteous Confessor John the Russian (c. 1690-1730; feast: May 27/June 9), took place in Neo Prokopion on the Euboea island at the Church dedicated to him, where his holy incorrupt relics are kept. Thousands of believers from Greece, Russia and other Orthodox countries were present at the festal event, reports AgionOros.
Every year on last Sunday of September, Orthodox Christians solemnly commemorate the unveiling of the magnificent Cathedral of Holy Righteous John the Russian, which took place in 1969. Numerous pilgrims have flocked to Neo Prokopion on this day since then.
A matins with a Divine Liturgy (with ordination of a deacon) were celebrated on the feast-day.
The service was headed by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalcis and Istiaia.
After the Divine Liturgy prayers were offered up for repose of souls of the refugees who had been forced to leave Asia Minor because of the genocide of the Greek population, arranged by the Turkish government. Emigrating from the town of Prokopion in Asia Minor to Euboea, they founded here the town Neo Prokopion (“New Prokopion”) and brought the relics of their patron-saint with them.
The culmination of the celebrations was the procession of the cross with the Holy Relics of Righteous John the Russian along Neo Prokopion streets.
Metropolitan Chrysostomos, numerous clergymen, local government representatives, and thousands of the faithful from all corners of the Orthodox world took part in the cross procession (the group of pilgrims from Russia was one of the largest ones).
According to an old tradition, during the cross procession the worshippers carried the Holy Relics of St. Righteous John on their arms.
