Event for Saint Chrysostom at the 32nd Pavleia of the Holy Metropolis of Veria

As part of the 32nd Pavleia events, on the afternoon of Saturday, June 20, an evening event titled “Contemporary Figures of the Church” was held at the Pavleio Cultural Center of Veria, dedicated to the spiritual founder of the Fraternity and pioneering missionary, Saint Chrysostom Papasarantopoulos.

Speakers at the event included His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naousa, and Campania; Mr. Charalambos Metallidis, President of the Orthodox External Mission Fraternity; and His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosius of Kinshasa from the Patriarchate of Alexandria, who continues today the missionary work initiated by Saint Chrysostom in Africa.

In his speech, Metropolitan Panteleimon referred to the life of the Saint, who, despite his frail health and physical weakness, dedicated all his strength to the ministry of the Gospel. Hailing from the Peloponnese, he served as a hieromonk in Edessa during the difficult years of the Occupation, studied at the School of Theology of the University of Athens, from which he received his degree in 1958 at the age of 55, and at 57, he decided to fulfill a desire born from his acquaintance with young African fellow students: to go to Africa himself as a missionary.

Before departing, he sought the blessing and opinion of the Church, staying for a month in Meteora and visiting Saint Amphilochios Makris in Patmos, who encouraged him by saying he envied him for his endeavor. When the then Archbishop of Athens, Theoklitos, tried to dissuade him, warning him of the danger of death, Saint Chrysostom replied that “there are graves in Africa too.” Thus, with the blessing of Patriarch Christophoros of Alexandria, he began the missionary work that established him as the “Saint of Africa.”

Concluding his speech, Metropolitan Panteleimon thanked the two speakers who continue the work of Saint Chrysostom and presented them with commemorative gifts from the 32nd Pavleia.