The entire city of Gytheio celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord over the two-day period of 1 and 2 February, with the Poly-Hierarchical Festal Vespers and the Divine Liturgy. Participating were His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias and Almyros, His Eminence Metropolitan Kallinikos of Arta, and the local Hierarch, Metropolitan Chrysostomos III of Mani. At Vespers, the holy sermon was preached by the Metropolitan of Arta, while at the Divine Liturgy by the Metropolitan of Demetrias.
After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the holy icon was carried in procession, a Supplicatory Prayer was offered in the square of Gytheio, an address was delivered by Metropolitan Chrysostomos III of Mani, and a Trisagion was celebrated by Metropolitan Kallinikos of Arta for the fallen Laconian air force pilots.
On the occasion of the feast, the worthy Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Georgios Sotiriou was honored with the medal of the Holy Metropolis, “Panagia Giatrissa (The Healer).”
Present were the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr Davakis; the Members of Parliament for Laconia, Messrs Kritikos and Grigorakou; the Mayor of East Mani, Mr Andreakos; the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (Pilot) Mr Grigoriadis; the Senior Garrison Commander of Laconia and Commander of KEEM (Supply and Transportation Training Centre for the Greek Armed Forces), Brigadier General Mr Zorbas; the Deputy Police Director of Laconia, Mr Agraniotis; the Commander of the Gytheio Police Station, Police Captain B’ Mr Vasilakos; the Port Authority of Gytheio, Commander Mr Motsakos; the Commander of the Gytheio Fire Service, Fire Major Mr Georgiakos; the Regional Councillor, Mr Tzinakos; Deputy Mayors; Municipal and Local Councillors of the Municipality of East Mani; on behalf of the Mayor of Sparta, the Deputy Mayor Mr Koulouvakos; officers of the Armed Forces and the Security Services; representatives of associations and institutions; and a large crowd of faithful believers.
Finally, the hymns in the holy church were rendered by the choir of the School of Byzantine Music of the Holy Metropolis of Mani, with choirmaster Mr N. Taprantzis, while the Hellenic Air Force Band presented an excellent concert.
