Bishop Maximos of Melitene officiated at the Matins and presided over the festive Divine Liturgy. Archimandritre Dimitrios Ploumis concelebrated with him.
In his sermon Bishop Maximos said: “St. Catherine did not flinch from the martyrdom, did not deny Christ. Modern Christians in Europe, however, deny Christ and are ashamed to confess their faith. If we were before the martyrdom today, would we have the courage to suffer for Christ, when we do not confess our faith, just out for fear to be labeled as members of the Church?”
Elsewhere he emphasized that “We should have the courage of the martyrs and trust in Jesus just like St. Catherine. Our passage from this world is fast and cannot be compared to eternal life.”
