The historical Parish of Antwerp celebrated the memory of the Holy Martyrs Philadelphus, Alpheus, and Kyprinos, together with the great feast of Mid-Pentecost, on the afternoon of May 9, 2023.
The Holy Three Martyrs Philadelphus, Alpheus, and Cyprien lived in the 4th century AD in Sicily, were according to the flesh brothers of noble origin, and were initiated into piety by their teacher in the letters Onesimus. During the time of Emperor Licinius, in the context of one of the great persecutions against Christians, the Saints were arrested and arrived from their homeland in Rome, where they were tried, remained firm in the faith of Christ, and after many tortures gave their lives, receiving the blessed crown of martyrdom. After the martyrdom of the three brothers, their teacher Onesimus and fifteen other Christians of their region walked the same path. The holy relics of the Holy Martyrs are located in Sicily, while their chanting service in Greek was written by the Hymnographer of the Great Church of Christ, hieromonk Athanasios Simonopetritis in 2017.
The feast of Vespers, the Matins, and the Divine Liturgy were presided over by the protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Belgium and the hierarchical head of the Parish Archimandrite Philadelphus Kafalis, accompanied by priests who rushed to celebrate and wish him well.
