On the eve of the great Feast of Christmas, on Tuesday, 23 December, the Service of the Third and Sixth Hours (according to the Byzantine Parish Typikon) and the Kontakion of Christmas by Saint Romanos the Melodist were celebrated at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Gregory Palamas in Thessaloniki.
The Service was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, with Metropolitan Damaskinos of Velestino present in prayer, together with the devout congregation who came to participate in the sacred Service, which is celebrated once a year prior to the great Feast of Christmas.
Participating in the Service were the Preacher of the Metropolis, Archimandrite Cherouvim Tsinoglou, and the parish priests of the church, Archimandrite Methodios Alexiou, Protopresbyter Palaiologos Manos, and Protopresbyter Athanasios Tsigos, while Deacons Nikolaos Tsepisis and Nektarios Chatzidaniel also served.
The musical setting of the sacred texts and the order of the Service, approved by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, were prepared by the Emeritus Professor of Musicology, Mr Grigorios Stathis.
At the conclusion of the Service, Metropolitan Philotheos spoke about the hagiological characteristics of the typikon of the Service, as well as the rich spiritual content of the Kontakion, which offers an opportunity for spiritual preparation for Christmas. Finally, he thanked the clergy and the choirs of chanters, under the direction of Mr Ioannis Liakos and Mr Angelos Sefkas, as well as all those who attended the Service, and extended festive greetings.
