Two years have passed since the repose of the blessed Metropolitan Ioanikii of Sliven, which was commemorated on 9 January.
On this occasion, Metropolitan Arsenii of Sliven presided over a memorial hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral Church of St Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki in Sliven.
Concelebrating in the memorial service were Bishop Ierotheos of Agathopolis, Archimandrite Dimitrii, Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Sliven, Stavrophore Oikonomos Pavel Garbov, diocesan councillor, Stavrophore Oikonomos Evgenii Yanakiev, rector of the cathedral church, Oikonomos Yoan Petrov, episcopal vicar of the Yambol ecclesiastical district, Panayot Sotirov, spiritual supervisor, Oikonomos Pavel Ivanov, Protopresbyter Evgenii Rushko of Odesa, Protodeacon Aleksandar Neshev, and Archdeacon Vartolomey.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Arsenii addressed the clergy and faithful, quoting the Apostle Paul: “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).
He recalled the archpastoral ministry of the blessed Metropolitan Ioanikii, highlighting his meekness, pastoral care, and unwavering faithfulness to the Church. The Metropolitan stressed that the remembrance of a hierarch is not merely a memory of the past, but a living witness of responsibility, spiritual wisdom, and sacrificial love for the flock entrusted to him, calling on the faithful to unite their prayers for his repose with thanksgiving to God for the fruits of his ministry.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service was served in the cathedral church, after which a trisagion was chanted at the grave of the late Metropolitan, located in the church courtyard.
The memorial observances concluded with prayers for the eternal memory of the blessed Metropolitan Ioanikii of Sliven.
You can view the photos by clicking the link HERE.
