His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos presided over the patronal feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas at the Koutloumousiou Kellion of Saint Nicholas Chalkias in Karyes, Mount Athos.
The Kellion is first mentioned in Athonite records dating back to 1640. Its designation “Chalkias” was adopted after 1780, while it was previously known as Saint Nicholas of Maroulas. According to local tradition, Saint Germanos Maroulis may have resided there for a period around 1270. The Kellion celebrates its feast on 1 June (19 May according to the Julian calendar observed on Mount Athos), commemorating the Translation and Return of the Relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia.
During his visit to the Holy Mountain, Metropolitan Kyrillos also visited the Holy Epistasia (executive and administrative committee of Mt Athos) and venerated the grave of the newly glorified Saint Tychon the Athonite (Papa-Tychon), the spiritual father of Saint Paisios the Athonite. Saint Tychon is regarded as one of the great ascetic figures of Mount Athos and is among the many holy men and women officially glorified during the patriarchate of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Alongside Saint Tychon, Hatzi-Georgis the Athonite was likewise recently added to the calendar of saints.
