On Friday, November 14, 2025, the Holy Metropolis of Derkoi celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the episcopal ministry of its Metropolitan, Elder Apostolos of Derkoi, at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Paraskevi in Therapia.
A Tri-Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated with full solemnity in the morning, presided over by the honored Metropolitan and concelebrated by the Metropolitans Anthimos of Alexandroupolis and Joachim of Bursa.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew joined in prayer in the Holy Sanctuary.
Also in attendance were the Metropolitans: Emmanuel of Chalcedon; Meliton of Philadelphia; Irenaios of Myriophyton and Peristasis; Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos; Athenagoras of Kydonies; Maximos of Silivria; Andreas of the Forty Churches; and Paisios of Xanthoupolis. Also present was Archbishop Nektarios of Anthidona, Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Constantinople.
Those in attendance included Mr. Marios Themistokleous, Greece’s Deputy Minister of Health; Mr. Andreas Katsaniotis, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Achaia; Mr. Athanasios Balerbas, Secretary General of the Interior; Mrs. Paraskevi Tzeveleki, Greece’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan; Mr. Georgios Mamalos, representing the Consul General of Greece; Mr. Ioannis Zampoukis, Mayor of Alexandroupolis; and clergy and a large number of faithful from Constantinople, Greece, and Ukraine.
Mr. Panagiotis Neochoritis, Archon Protopsaltis of the Great Church of Christ, Mr. Georgios Kioseoglou, First Domestikos, and Mr. Antonis Chatzopoulos, Archon Protopsaltis of the Metropolis of Derkoi, chanted for the Divine Liturgy, accompanied by cantors from Alexandroupolis.
After the Divine Liturgy concluded, Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis addressed the honored Metropolitan, reminiscing about their long friendship and his valuable service to the Mother Church. He presented the Metropolitan with an omophorion and an epitrachelion.
Next, Protopresbyter Chrysovalantis Theodorou, head priest of the parish of Saint Stephen in Dionysos, Attica—a parish founded by refugees from the same-named parish in the Metropolis of Derkoi—addressed the Elder of Derkoi and presented him with a beautifully crafted icon of Saint Stephen.
Further greetings were offered by Fr. Adamantios Kokkinakis, representing the clergy of the Metropolis of Derkoi, and Adamantios Kombopoulos, Archon Primikirios of the Great Church of Christ.
Finally, a visibly moved Metropolitan Apostolos spoke, describing his thirty years of episcopal ministry. He thanked God for the blessing of the episcopacy, the Ecumenical Patriarch for his trust and love, the Organizing Committee—chaired by the Metropolitan of Alexandroupolis—for arranging the anniversary celebration, and all who had gathered to honor this special day.
In closing, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew offered heartfelt wishes to Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, expressing his paternal love and esteem for his long and devoted service.
During the distribution of the antidoron, the Ecumenical Patriarch gave a commemorative blessing to each of the more than three hundred and fifty faithful in attendance, along with the antidoron.
The celebration concluded with a luncheon hosted by the Metropolitan for the distinguished guests.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
