The feast of the Holy and Glorious Apostle Titus, First Bishop and Patron of the Church of Crete, was celebrated with splendour on Tuesday, 25 August, at the festal chapel of the Episcopal Residence of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos.
At the invitation of the local Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, His Eminence Metropolitan Theodoros of Brazzaville and Gabon of the Patriarchate of Alexandria presided at Matins and subsequently celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by clergy of the Holy Metropolis, while Metropolitan Prodromos prayerfully attended.
Before the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, and at the request of the local Shepherd, Metropolitan Theodoros appointed Presbyter Nikolaos Roussakis as a Spiritual Father and Confessor. Fr Nikolaos is a theologian and iconographer who teaches at the Holy Metropolis’ School of Iconography and serves at the Holy Monastery of Saint Irene in Rethymno.
Metropolitan Prodromos warmly thanked the visiting Hierarch of the Alexandrian Throne for his presence in the local Church and his honoured participation in the feast.
Both Hierarchs reflected upon the great and sacred figure of the Holy Apostle Titus, the first Bishop of Crete, on the occasion of his feast and the 60th anniversary of the return of his Precious Skull from Venice to Crete.
Fitting commemoration was also made of the late Metropolitan Titus Sylligardakis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, founder of the Episcopal Residence and its sacred chapel, together with all the Hierarchs who, in many and varied ways, contributed to the spiritual advancement and progress of the local Church.
Following the Divine Liturgy, festal refreshments were offered to the numerous pilgrims. Among those present were the Deputy Mayor of Rethymno, Mr Georgios Papadosifos; the Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis, Archimandrite Parthenios Kalyvianakis; and Abbess Thekla of the Holy Monastery of Saint Irene.
