2010-05-02
The parishes of the Archdiocese in Germany celebrated Antiochian Day (the feast of the translation of the relics of Saint Athanasius the Great, the patron of the Archdiocese in Germany) with a Divine Liturgy presided over by the His Eminence Metropolitan John in the city of Cologne. The priests and deacons of the parishes in Germany concelebrated the Divine Liturgy, together with the parish choir.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the monks who are pursuing their academic studies in Greece presented a selection of hymns, together with popular songs from the Antiochian Christian heritage. The church was filled with the faithful, who joined with the choir in some of these hymns, which recalled for them the warmth of Antiochian history. His Eminence then honoured Father Elias Isbir, conferring upon him a cross on the occasion of his having completed twenty-five years of service as a priest. In his speech, His Eminence emphasised the importance of service in the Church and caring for the people of our Antiochian Church in the countries of emigration.
