The feast of Saint Athanasios of Paros was celebrated with great solemnity in his birthplace, Kostos, Paros, centred on the church dedicated to the Saint, over the course of 24–25 June 2026.
On the eve of the feast, Festal Vespers was celebrated with His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Keramon presiding, who also delivered the homily.
On the feast day, the Matins were celebrated with Bishop Bartholomew presiding, followed by the Festal Divine Liturgy, presided over by the local Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Kallinikos of Paronaxia.
Twelve clergy concelebrated the Divine Liturgy, while the hymns were chanted by a choir of Byzantine chanters under the direction of Mr Angelos Kortianos.
The sermon was delivered by the preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Paronaxia, Archimandrite Arsenios Mellissianos.
Among those in attendance were local civil authorities, led by the Mayor of Paros, Mr Konstantinos Bizas, together with a large gathering of devout faithful.
Before the dismissal, His Eminence Metropolitan Kallinikos presided over the annual memorial service for the late Evangelia Vioni-Anousaki, Presvytera of the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Fr Nikolaos Anousakis. Participating in the memorial service was His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Gabriel of Leontopolis, of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, who was the late Presvytera’s cousin.
Following the memorial service, Metropolitan Kallinikos spoke about the life and witness of the late Presvytera Evangelia, who fell asleep in the Lord unexpectedly one year ago. He expressed his paternal condolences and prayers to her husband, Fr Nikolaos, and to the rest of her family. He then thanked the visiting Hierarchs for their participation and invoked the blessings of Saint Athanasios upon all those present.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a procession took place with the holy icon and the grace-bearing relics of Saint Athanasios through the streets of the village.
