The great feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated at the Holy Church of the Community of Neochorion, Bosporus.
There was large participation not only of the local parishioners, but also of many pious Christians, from various parts of the City of Constantinople and abroad.
More specifically, on the eve of the feast day, Monday 14 August 2023, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, Patriarchal Supervisor of the local District, presided over the Great Vespers of the Dormition. Archimandrite Timotheos Railakis-Vranas, Parish Priest of the neighbouring Community of Vafeohorion, preached the homily for the feast day, Protopresbyter Konstantinos Bartholomeos, Parish Priest of Neochorion, and the Patriarchal Deacon Epifanios Kamianovic participated in the celebration.
While the troparia of the Litany were being chanted, according to the ancient local tradition of the Community, a procession folloewd and then the Theotokos was placed in the old, beautifully decorated, sacred kouvouklion (carved canopy). Afterwards, the blessing of the Five Loaves (Artoklasia) took place for the sake of the pious parishioners and the pilgrims who came to honour the Mother of God.
In the morning of the great Feast of the Mother of God, Tuesday, 15 August 2023, Metropolitan Athenagoras presidede over the Divine Liturgy. The Parish Priest of the Neochorion Community, Protopresbyter Konstantinos Bartholomeos, and also Deacon Bosporios Magafas, Undersecretary of the Sacred and Holy Synod, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy.
Prior the end of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Athenagoras addressed the congregation and distributed the Antidoron to all those who were present.
