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We began the day with a miracle,… everyone woke up on time and we were ready to go at 8:30 a.m.! Perhaps we all were excited to experience our first Divine Liturgy in Greece. The bus or Pullman, as the Greeks call it, took us to the southern suburb of Athens, St. Demetrios, to a Church of the same name.
Most of the churches that I have been to in Greece were centuries old but St. Demetrios was in the process of new construction. The Liturgy was held in the basement of the church since the sanctuary was not completed. It still was as beautiful as ever.
As we walked in we were immersed with the sound of harmonious chanting and a house full of worshipers. This was definitely not the come-just-before communion crowd. They were mostly of middle age and older with the men sitting in chairs on the right side of the church and the women sitting on the left side. This was the first of many differences between the way the Americani Ellines worship.
There were even signs indicating the proper section each gender should sit!I was surprised not to see many children and young adults. But they eventually turned up just before communion. There was no choir but Psaltes or Chanters on both sides of the Church.
Even amongst the differences, the one thing I noticed the most was the common tie we had with the language. I glanced over at our kids as they were reciting the Patrimony (Lord’s Prayer) along side with the parishioners. It is amazing to think that you can go anywhere in the world and in every Greek Orthodox Church you will have the feeling of being home. So many things attributed to this feeling…. The Icons, the smell of incense, the Holy traditions and the entire Divine Liturgy made us feel connected to St. Demetrios.
It was so special to have His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios serve in the Altar, along with Fr. Chris. He said in his sermon that in God’s eyes we are all the same. I looked around and noticed how true that statement was. No matter what country, we are all Orthodox Christians.
After the Divine Liturgy we meet the priests of St. Demetrios. They were Fr. Matthew, Fr. George, Fr. Evangelos and Fr. Lukas. They gave us the privilege to venerate the Holy Relics of St. Demetrios. That was such an uplifting experience.
Later we were treated to a wonderful breakfast and the community shared their philoxenia. We were invited back next week for a performance in their Panagyri. We are all very much looking forward it!
Then it was back on the bus to go for another dance rehearsal, relaxation and then off to the streets of Athens!
We visited the museum under the metro station at Syntagma Square and then experienced life in the Plaka with time spent in fellowship eating souvlaki sandwiches, which we were told, was at the best place in Athens called Thanasi! We also went to the Metropolis Cathedral of Athens to venerate the icons and light a candle. We were honored to venerate the relics of two incredible Saints, Piloted and Gregory. The Turks hanged St. Gregory in 1821 at the main gate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Pascha Sunday. We have much to share when we return with our family. We also met the former Chancellor the Archdiocese of Athens Fr. Thomas who traveled with the late Archbishop Christodoulos when he came to America for a transplant prior to his death. He and Father Chris were able to catch up on old times and plan some time together in the future. Fr. Thomas is now the Dean of the Cathedral.
Our time in Athens ended with a wonderful performance of the Dora Stratou Folkloric Dancers, under the stars in their amphitheater near the Acropolis.
Peggy Dunkerly
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