Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos welcomed a group of clergy, theology professors and students from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to the Monastery of Saint Irene in Rethymno on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
The Ukrainian delegation is currently staying at the Orthodox Academy of Crete as part of an educational program. The group was accompanied by Archon Konstantinos Zorbas, General Director of the Orthodox Academy of Crete.
Metropolitan Prodromos received the visitors together with the monastery’s Abbess, Gerontissa Thekla, and clergy of the Metropolis, including Archimandrite Romanos Anastasiadis and Fr Sergios Palatnikov, who also assisted with interpretation.
During the meeting, the Metropolitan spoke to the Ukrainian visitors about the history of the Monastery of Saint Irene and the local Church of Rethymno.
Metropolitan Prodromos also expressed his hope for an end to the war in Ukraine and for peace among peoples, so that the Orthodox Church may continue its mission and witness without hindrance.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of greetings and commemorative gifts among the participants.
Following their pilgrimage to the monastery, the Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos hosted a meal in honor of the Ukrainian delegation.
