The city of Chania and the Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronas bid a final farewell today to the late Metropolitan Damaskinos.
Today, the day of his funeral, was marked as a day of mourning in Chania. Since the announcement of his passing, flags had flown at half-mast at Chania City Hall and all municipal buildings.
The funeral service of the beloved Hierarch began at 11:00 a.m. at the Metropolitan Church of the Presentation of the Theotokos in Chania.
His body, which arrived yesterday at the port of Souda aboard the ferry “El. Venizelos” of ANEK Lines, accompanied by the Locum Tenens of the Metropolis, Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selinos, had been lying in repose since Thursday morning.
The burial took place at the Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Tzagarolon.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was represented at the funeral service by Archbishop Eugenios of Crete, President of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete.
During the funeral, Archbishop Eugenios delivered a eulogy on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On behalf of the Synod, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Ierapytna and Siteia spoke, while Archimandrite Nikiforos Eikosidekas, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronas, spoke on behalf of the clergy, monastic communities, and faithful.
In accordance with the late Hierarch’s wishes, no other eulogies were delivered.
Mourning on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete was officially represented by the Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selinos.
The late Metropolitan passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 8, at a private clinic in Athens after a long battle with cancer.
He had been hospitalized for several weeks in a private hospital in Athens following a successful intestinal surgery two weeks prior. This surgery followed another major operation in July 2024. In less than a year, he had undergone two difficult surgical procedures.
Unfortunately, his health rapidly deteriorated. Despite the doctors’ efforts, he suffered a stroke and passed away, plunging the clergy and faithful of his Metropolis into deep sorrow.
