Thousands join cross procession in Chalcis in honor of St. Paraskeva

Thousands of believers take part in a cross procession in Greece on the feast day of St. Paraskeva. Photo: Screenshot from the YouTube channel Χρήστος Κουτσαύτης.

Thousands of believers took part in a solemn cross procession in honor of St. Paraskeva in the Greek city of Chalcis. Festivities dedicated to the city’s heavenly patron were held on July 25 and 26, UOJ in Greece reports.

This year, due to extensive restoration work at the historic Church of St. Paraskeva, all services were moved to the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Demetrios. Despite the temporary change of venue, large crowds of worshippers came to honor the saint’s memory.

The central event of the celebrations was a solemn procession with the icon of the patron saint of Chalcis through the city streets and along the waterfront. The prayerful procession was attended by Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, Metropolitan Nikiforos of Gortyna and Megalopolis, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalcis, and Bishop Nikodimos of Skopelos.

Particular attention was drawn to the visit of Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, who returned to his native city for the feast. Residents of Chalcis warmly welcomed the hierarch, who began his ecclesiastical ministry in the city’s churches.

The celebrations concluded in an atmosphere of deep spiritual joy, as residents and numerous pilgrims honored St. Paraskeva with profound reverence.

As previously reported by the UOJ, tens of thousands of believers took part in a cross procession with the Belt of the Theotokos in Belgrade.

Read also