The procession of the Icons of St. Demetrios and Virgin Mary Faneromeni took place this morning, October 25th, in Thessaloniki with reverence, where a large crowd gathered to witness it.
The icons were carried by military and security personnel, accompanied by priests, nuns, officials, and residents of Thessaloniki, to the music of the Greek Police Orchestra. In particular, Metropolitans Nikandros of Irinoupolis (Ecumenical Patriarchate), who led the procession, Barnabas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, Chrysostomos of Messinia, Athenagoras of Ilion, Acharnes and Petroupolis, Justinos of New Krini and Kalamaria, Symeon of Phthiotis, Ierotheos of Lemnos and Agios Efstratios, Grigorios of Peristeri, Nikiforos of Gortynos and Megalopolis, Serapion of Paramythia, and Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In addition, clergy, monastic orders, and many faithful were present.
The icons left the Holy Church at 11:00 a.m. and the procession followed the route from Agiou Dimitriou Street, down to Venizelou Street, then to Egnatia Street, before returning to the Holy Church via Agia Sofia Street.
Thousands of citizens had gathered early, not only from Greece but also from Cyprus and Romania. Together with their families, they surrounded both the church and the streets where the procession was taking place, capturing the moment with their cell phones. Most of them followed the entire route of the procession and the streets were filled with the faithful.
The procession ended successfully just after noon. People of all ages, captivated by the event, waited to venerate the icons, while some sang hymns with the priests during the procession.
The procession marked the beginning of three days of celebrations, as tomorrow is the feast day of the city’s patron saint, Saint Demetrios, and crowds are expected to flock to the churches for veneration.
Source: makthes.gr
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
