Heraklion: The Feast of the Holy Apostle Titus and the Commemoration of Those Massacred on 25 August 1898
The commemoration of the Holy Apostle Titus, the first Bishop of Crete, was celebrated with particular splendour and the participation of a multitude of faithful on Tuesday, 25 August, at the church dedicated to him in Heraklion.
His Eminence Archbishop Evgenios of Crete presided over the festal services of Vespers, Matins and the Divine Liturgy, concelebrating with His Grace Bishop Grigorios of Abydos and assisted by clergy of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete. Representatives of the local authorities and organisations were present, together with a multitude of faithful.
In his address, His Eminence referred to the apostolic foundation of the Church of Crete by the Apostles Paul and Titus. He emphasised that Crete is called to remain faithful to its traditions, ethos, principles and Orthodox culture.
Referring to the Precious Skull of Saint Titus, which calls upon everyone to safeguard the spiritual and cultural identity of the island, he characteristically declared: “Upon this head rests Crete.”
His Eminence also referred to the 60th anniversary of the return of the Precious Skull of Saint Titus from Venice to Heraklion on 15 May 1966, as well as to the commemorative events held throughout the current year. He further observed that genuine development is not merely economic, but primarily spiritual and cultural. He called upon everyone to reveal the “true Crete”—the Crete of apostolic tradition, faith, philotimo and spiritual nobility.
The feast day of Saint Titus is also inseparably connected with the memory of the Christian residents of Megalo Kastro, as Heraklion was formerly known, who were massacred on 25 August 1898 for their Faith and homeland. The Archbishop of Crete referred to their sacrifice, observing that this tragic event provided the decisive impetus for the path towards freedom and the union of Crete with Mother Greece.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service was conducted in the church courtyard for the repose of the Christians massacred on 25 August 1898. This was followed by the laying of wreaths at the Monument to the “Christians Massacred for Faith and Homeland”.
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