St Andrew’s Day

This week, we had the great blessing of celebrating the memory of the holy, glorious and all-praised Apostle Andrew the First-called, patron saint both of our Cathedral and of our Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Great Vespers of the feast on Monday evening was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain. His Eminence was joined by seven priests: Archimandrite Apostolos Trifyllis, Protopresbyters Constantinos Garibaldinos (Archdiocesan Vicar General), Alexander Fostiropoulos, John Hookway and Nicholas Kokkinos, Oeconomos Kristian Akselberg and Presbyter Pavlos Lambrou. At the end of the Vespers, His Eminence appointed Mr Paul Sebastian Niga and Mr Savvas Soteriou to the order of reader, the first rank of the minor priesthood.

A tri-hierarchical concelebration of the Divine Liturgy was held on Tuesday morning. His Eminence the Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain was joined by His Eminence Archbishop Zenon of Dmanisi (Patriarchate of Georgia) and His Grace Bishop Maximos of Melitene. With the hierarchs were also Archimandrites Nikodemos Anagnostopoulos (Chancellor of the Archdiocese) and Chrysostomos Tympas, Protopresbyters Constantine Garibaldinos and Nicholas Kokkinos, Oeconomos Kristian Akselberg and Deacon George Tsourous. Presbyter George Gibradze (Patriarchate of Georgia) was also present at the service.

His Eminence the Archbishop spoke at both the Great Vespers and the Divine Liturgy, referring to the need for us to learn from and emulate the humble example of St Andrew the Apostle. He also spoke warmly about His Eminence Chrysostomos of Heliopolis (formerly Bishop of Kyanea), who faithfully served St Andrew’s from 1961 to his retirement in 2019.