At the celebrating Holy Metropolitan Church of Saint Euphemia in Chalcedon, the Great Vespers with the blessing of the five loaves (Artoklasia) took place on Monday evening, July 10, 2023.
The Vespers were officiated by Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria, who was joined in prayer by the local Shepherd, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, as well as Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi and Bishop Smaragdos of Daphnousia.
Metropolitan Maximos was assisted by Archimandrite Evgenios Karatzas, Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Chalcedon, and Patriarchal Deacon, Father Varnavas Grigoriadis.
Believers from the City of Constantinople were present for the vespers as well as the General Secretary of the Chalcedon Community, Archon Chartularius Mr. Georgios Stephanopoulos.
At the end of the vespers service, Metropolitan Maximos, after thanking Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel with warm words, spoke appropriately to the faithful emphasizing the importance of Holiness in our lives by combining it with the life and the person of the honored Saint Euphemia.
At the conclusion of the vespers, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon welcomed the visiting Hierarch, wishing him strength in the responsible tasks that the Mother Church has assigned to him.
