Fthiotida prefecture in south-central mainland Greece remained in a state of bereavement on Wednesday, a day after hundreds of mourners, Church hierarchs and clerics paid their last respects to reposed local Metropolitan, Nikolaos.
A hierarchical funeral service was held on Tuesday morning at the Cathedral of the Annunciation, in Fthiotida’s capital, the city of Lamia, presided by the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos.
A funeral procession then followed through the city’s main streets, with a hearse carrying the reposed Metropolitan’s body, accompanied by a military honor guard and the municipality’s philharmonic band.
The reposed in the Lord Metropolitan’s body was committed to the grave at the Holy Convent of Damastos, as was Nikolaos’ request. Soil from his native island of Tinos, the pilgrimage of St. John the Russian and oil from a vigil lamp at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Tinos accompanied the procession.
Nikolaos served as the beloved Metropolitan of Fthiotida for 23 years.
The Orthodoxia news agency this week hosts exclusive video and photos from the somber services and procession, as well as statements by Church hierarchs regarding the sudden loss of the blessed pastor.
