ST.SAVVAS’ RELICS ARE PLACED IN A NEW RELINQUARY

On Saturday night, September 30/ October 13, 2018, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Lavra of St. Savvas the Sanctified according to the Typicon order of the Lavra. The Liturgy was officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with co-celebrants the Most Reverend Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki and the Most Reverend Archbishops, Aristarchos of Constantina, Philoumenos of Pella, and the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Arab-speaking Priests, as well as visiting Priests from other Churches, Archdeacon Mark and Deacon Demetrios.

The Patriarchal and Episcopal Liturgy took place on the event of the placement of St. Savvas’ relics from the Relinquary in which he came from Venice on October 12 1965, to a new elegant silver one. The new Relilnquary has been made under the noble, studious and tireless care of the Most Reverend Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, funded by Mr. Charalambos Mylonas, founder of the Shipping Company TRANSMED SHIPPING and his wife Chariklea, with the fine art of the Architects Petros Koufopoulos and Marina Myrianthi-Koufopoulou, the silversmiths Vasilios and Spyridon Haidou and the Company that owned by brothers Lazarou in Volos.

This action is the least offering in return to St. Savvas, for all the intercessions and healings he provides with his incorrupt relics for the Fathers in his Lavra and the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, to the pilgrims around the world and to the whole world.

After Dismissal, the Patriarchal Entourage was offered a reception by the Spiritual Father of the Lavra Archimandrite Eudokimos who also addressed all present as follows;

Your Beatitude Father and Master,

Most Reverend Holy Archbishops,

Reverend Fathers and noble pilgrims,

This day has gathered us to celebrate a historic event at the Holy and sacred Lavra of our Holy Father among the Saints Savvas the Sanctified.

It refers to the placement of the Saint’s relics from the old Relinquary to a new, silver and elegant one.

53 years ago, during the Patriarchal office of Benedict I, after all the procedures between the Latin Patriarchate and the representatives of our Patriarchate, the Holy Synod appointed a Delegation to receive and transfer St. Savvas’ holy relics from Venice to his Holy Lavra.

Members of the Delegation were the memorable Metropolitan Vasilios of Caesarea, Archimandrite Germanos, who later became Metropolitan of Petra, at that time Hierodeacon Kyriakos, who is now Metropolitan of Nazareth – and the only one still alive, our reverend Geronda memorable Archimandrite Seraphim, and Archimandrite Theodosios, Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery of St. Lazarus in Bethany, who carried the liturgical vestments to dress the Saint.

We thank the All-Merciful God who deemed us worthy to change the liturgical vestments of our Saint, to receive the great blessing, all of us who participated in this beautiful service.

We warmly thank His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch Theophilos; I believe that St. Savvas inspired His heart which loves monasticism to grant the blessing, so the construction of the new Relinquary was made possible despite the difficulties.

We should express our warmest thanks to the noble couple of brothers Mr. Charalambos Mylonas and his wife Chariklea for their great contribution for the construction of the Holy Relinquary of St. Savvas.

Also, we thank from the depths of our heart the Most Reverend Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, who had the initiative for the Relinquary, and supervised all work to be done as it should for a great Holy Father of our Church, with much love, care and diligence.

We also thank the craftsmen of the Relinquary, who worked zealously and with love, so that all things would be done the best they could, and also all those who anonymously contributed in any way for the completion of this sacred work. May the Lord our God, through the intercessions of our Most Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and our Holy Father among the Saints Savvas the Sanctified, return them a thousand-fold their pay in the Kingdom of Heaven.

By your prayers, Your Beatitude, which we ardently seek.

Thank you.

His Beatitude glorified God and thanked all contributors to this God-pleasing work – righteously done to honour our Holy Father among the Saints Savvas the Sanctified, and underlined the greatness of the spiritual treasure that is kept in the Monastery of St. Savvas, before he blessed everybody and returned to Jerusalem.

From Secretariat-General