The Church of Greece solemnly celebrates the memory of Saint Paul the Apostle. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece performed the Mystery of the Eucharist this morning at the celebrating Church of St. Paul in Athens while Bishops Filotheos of Oreoi, and Filotheos of Rogoi, participated in the Mystery.
Bishop Filotheos of Oreoi (Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece) delivered the panegyric of the day, who, among other things, stressed that “Paul loved Christ after first accepting Him into his life.”
The Bishop of Oreoi also said: “The example of the Apostle Paul, my brothers, in relation to us, the modern Christians, should certainly concern us as to whether we work as a community, or we have this community spirit.”
He added that we should all make a genuine effort not to succumb to the temptation of a peculiar “sinlessness”, that is, to consider ourselves perfect, completely dedicated to faith and righteous life, thus, without the need for repentance and return. It is a constant struggle, which sometimes leads to Paradise and sometimes even to a dark abyss, from which only the omnipotent Grace of God can redeem us.”
Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and all Greece will preside over the Festal Vespers service at the Areopagus on June 29 at 19.00 in commemoration of the Areopagus sermon, that is, the speech delivered by Saint Paul the Apostle in Athens.
