NEW YORK – In the streets of Astoria on a glorious summer’s day the people celebrated a feast and a homecoming. The Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Orthodox Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou held its annual procession and the Patriarchate was represented by Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, who had been the pastor of St. Demetrios Cathedral and was missed by the community.
The institution is under the Jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and its sanctuary is on 23rd Avenue.
After the Divine Liturgy the congregation, along with throngs of children, poured into the streets of New York’s Greek Town and followed the icon and silver case of the relics held aloft by men dressed as evzones, the Greek presidential guard, accompanied clergy, chanters, altar boys, and young flag-bearing girls in white robes.
Sunlight bathed the environs and streamed through the gaps in the structures of the elevated subway and Amtrak as non-Greeks joined Hellenes gathered along the sidewalks.
There was a fun and festive air – some people had already gathered at the tables set up at the food court as smiling but serious volunteers were hard at work cooking souvlakis and loukoumades – but there was also a spirit of reverence.
Even before the procession returned to the Church, people who ultimately numbered in the hundreds began lining up in the street, waiting for the beloved 9th century saint’s icon and relics to be passed over them in the hopes of a miracle for the troubled and a year of blessings for the rest.
After the procession, the monastery’s Abbot, the Right Rev. Archimandrite Ierotheos Zacharis, addressed the congregation – Bishop Apostolos had earlier delivered the sermon – praising his parishioners and the guests for the respect and devotion they displayed for the Saint.
“Today our people have shown that they believe, that they love their Church, that they respect and venerate and honor God’s saints,” he said.
He also proclaimed that His Grace Bishop Apostolos demonstrated his love of the community through his participation in all the events related to the feast, including the weekend festival that precedes Monday night’s vesper services, and the Divine Liturgy that will be celebrated on July 28.
After thanking His Grace, who is an auxiliary bishop and serves as the Chancellor of the Metropolis of San Francisco, for traveling all the way from Los Angeles to be present, Fr. Ierotheos called on God’s blessing on the latter and thanked Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the greetings that were conveyed by their honored guest.
His Grace thanked Fr. Ierotheos and the congregation, calling the monastery “a symbol of faith, patience, prayer, and faith, and peace in New York.”
He then thanked the people for participating in the Liturgy and the festival and concluded by saying “I wish for you to always have peace, harmony, love, health and strength in your families and your lives.”
Caught up in the joy of the day, Fr. Ierotheos said “I feel that I find myself in one of the great pilgrimage sites in Greece,” and that he feels strongly the blessings of God on his people in America, concluding with a passionate exclamation of “chronia polla – many years – and health and happiness to all.”
George Andriotis, who was preparing to leave for his native Dodecanese island of Nisyros, was delighted by the “magnificent day, and the important thing I want to point out that everyone came out – young and old – to express and participate in one of the great events that presents our culture, traditions, language and religion,” which he believes is the primary concern and goal and we must always promote all Hellenic things.”
Athena, who has roots in Kavala and Thasos, and her husband Jimmy whose family is from the Peloponnese, have made the pilgrimage every year since. She loves the Church, richly decorated with icons, “and I love the saint,” Athena said. She first learned about St. Irene when as a Sunday school teacher at the Church of the Prophet Elias in Yonkers.
Two of the participants in the procession symbolized of the harmony that is such a boon for the community when it is manifested. City Councilman Costa Constantinides was marching with his electoral opponent Gus Prentzas. They worked together for the good of Astoria before they faced off and they continue to do so.
Constantinides joined in the celebration with his constituents. “It’s always wonder to celebrate the festival of St. Irene. It pulls the community together – see the wonderful turnout – for a great event,” he told TNH.
Prentzas said “It’s always an honor and a pleasure to be able to partake of this event. I grew up in this community…it’s a blessed day for the whole community.”
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