Joyful peals echo through the bells of every church in Patras as Fr. Gervasios Paraskevopoulos was canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
At the Church of St. Andrew in Southern Greece, Metropolitan of Patras and all the clergy performed a reverent Doxology. The Apolytikion of Saint Gervasios echoed for the first time as his holy icon was venerated, accompanied by the resounding chant of the Polychronion.
Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras extended a cordial invitation to clergy and laity to join the commemorative Vespers Service at the Camps of Saint Paraskevi in Sychaina. There, the saint’s revered relics will be on display for veneration.
It is recalled that Metropolitan Chrysostomos had overseen the translation of the saint’s relics in 2014, marking the 50th anniversary of his repose in the Lord. Thousands from Patras participated, singing hymns and exclaiming “Saint, Saint!” in honor of Fr. Gervasios.
Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras took the necessary actions for Fr. Gervasios’ canonization, navigating through the procedures of the Synodical Committee on Dogmatic and Canonical matters. The file, endorsed by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, was forwarded to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
On November 16, 2023, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew proposed to the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate the official declaration of Gervasios Paraskevopoulos as a recognized saint on the Eastern Orthodox Church Calendar.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
