With great enthusiasm and in a wonderfully festive Christmas atmosphere, another beautiful tradition of the historic Community of Mega Revma in Constantinople was celebrated again this year.
On the afternoon of 6 December 2025, the Great Vespers of Saturday were celebrated in the Church of the Archangels, presided over by the Hierarchical Overseer, His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, with the participation of all the clergy of the Bosphorus Ecclesiastical District and a large congregation of faithful Christians.
Among those prayerfully attending were the Ambassador of Greece in Constantinople, Mr. Konstantinos Koutras, accompanied by his wife Mrs. Popita Pavli—whose honoured presence the Community warmly appreciates—Mrs. Dimitra Vourdoglou, Education Coordinator, with her husband; Mr. Ioannis Demirtzoglou, Archon Megas Referendarios of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, President of the Coordinating Committee of the Community of Chalcedon and Director of the Zografeion Lyceum; Mr. Georgios Papaliaris, President of the renowned Community of Stavrodromi and of the Association for the Support of Rum (Greek) Community Foundations; and many others.
His Eminence blessed the Artoklasia for the health and longevity of the Philoptochos Association of the Community, whose patron saint is St Barbara, as her after-feast was celebrated that day. For this reason, the icon of the Great Martyr, enshrined in a marble icon stand in the northern aisle, was adorned with a beautiful arrangement of white flowers.
Before the dismissal, Metropolitan Athenagoras warmly thanked both the active Administrative Committee of the Community, under the presidency of Mrs. Dora Diakrousi, and the tireless Philoptochos Association, under the presidency of Mrs. Loxandra Mais, for their work, conveying the venerable Patriarchal commendation and the paternal blessings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Afterward, a procession was formed in which the children, holding lit lanterns and led by His Eminence, accompanied the Divine Infant to the Nativity scene, which was illuminated by the star of Bethlehem. Then all the children gathered around the Christmas tree, which was lit from top to bottom. The large participation of the young parishioners brought great joy to the members of the Community; the excitement, happiness, and wonder were clearly visible in their little eyes. Following this, loukoumades, melomakarona, roasted chestnuts, corn, and all kinds of homemade, Lenten, delicious treats delighted everyone’s imagination.
After this interlude, the children attended in the Community Hall a theatrical performance of the famous classic fairy tale by Italian author Carlo Collodi, “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” written in 1883, presented with great success by a seven-member troupe of professional actors under the direction of Mr. Spyros Stelianesis.
At the end, all contributors to the performance received heartfelt congratulations and prolonged enthusiastic applause. This was followed by the distribution of traditional Christmas gifts to the young parishioners, gifts filled with unforgettable childhood memories. Everyone, joyful and satisfied, exchanged heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas.
