On Friday, July 4, 2025, the town of Siatista warmly welcomed Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, who arrived in response to an invitation from Metropolitan Athanasios of Sisaniou and Siatista. Accompanied by his blessed entourage, the Patriarch brought the spiritual blessing and sanctification of the Alexandrian Church to the deeply historic and much-suffering land of Macedonia.
The official welcome took place at the ancient Holy Monastery of Saint Athanasios in Eratyra, where hierarchs, clergy, and faithful received the Alexandrian Primate with reverence and joy. A deeply moving Vespers service was celebrated, marking the inauguration of the newly consecrated Holy Altar of the monastery’s katholikon (main church).
The following day, Saturday, July 5, the faithful gathered from early in the morning to attend Orthros and the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy. During the liturgy, the consecration of the Holy Altar was solemnly performed, and, toward the end of the service, the enthronement of the new abbot, Archimandrite Nikiforos Mitroudis, took place. Patriarch Theodore also awarded honorary distinctions to several benefactors of the monastery in recognition of their support.
The honorees included: Georgios Amanatidis, Regional Governor of Western Macedonia, Eleftherios Avramopoulos, Mayor of Meteora, Georgios Konstantinidis, businessman, Archontissa Zacharoula Vagianou, Nikolaos Mantziaris, businessman.
All expressed heartfelt thanks to the Patriarch, emphasizing the importance of giving and service to the Holy Church.
Patriarch Theodore was accompanied by Metropolitan Gabriel of Leontopolis (Elder), Metropolitan Stephanos of Hippo, and the Protopresbyters Fr. Pavlos Tzilampi and Fr. Nikolaos Koulianopoulos.
In his homily during the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Theodore expressed his deep joy in visiting “the land soaked with the blood of heroes of the faith and the homeland, a land often wronged, yet glorified in song, Macedonia.” He thanked Metropolitan Athanasios for the invitation and praised the faithful for their unwavering devotion to the Church and to their spiritual heritage.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
