With reverence and devotion, but also in compliance with all the instructions of the State to avoid the spread of the coronavirus, the pilgrimage to Panagia Soumela, on the hills of Vermio, in Kastania, Imathia, took place.
In the morning the Divine Liturgy was performed and was followed by the Orthros and the solemn archieratic concelebration, presided by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veroia, Naoussa and Campania, in the presence of Metropolitan Pavlos of Drama and hierarchs, representatives of the State, the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Officials and members of Pontiac unions.
Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veroia, Naoussa and Campania, in his sermon, prayed to the celebrated Theotokos “to prevent any unjust intrusion” for our country, “to build an impregnable wall, a protective wall, on land and sea, from Thrace to Kastelorizo ”and to protect the Armed Forces guarding the borders and the country. He pointed out that Panagia is watching and is aware of the problems that the people are suffering from, due to the coronavirus, which forced her celebration of this year to take place in compliance with the restrictive rules.
“Even if some people thought that they could deprive us of contact with Her (Panagia), either by covering her most sacred figure in the niche of Hagia Sophia, or by desecrating the recently restored frescoes in the historic monastery of Panagia Soumela in Pontos, the Most Holy Theotokos is unceasingly present” Metropolitan Panteleimon said and added: “She will stop the multitude of insults and claims, she will remove by her grace every enemy and adversary and will protect us from every visible and invisible danger to which we are exposed.”
source: ANA-MPA