Annunciation

Well, on Sunday, Pelagia and I went downtown to Panagia Ahiropiitos (the enormous basilica church built around 450 AD) for the Liturgy, where I was able to serve with my spiritual father, Fr. Spyridon, and a deacon friend of mine from Romania.

After the service, we met up with the Montagues (another American family here), who had run into an American pilgrim. We all went together down to the Metropolis to venerate the relics of St. Gregory Palamas, who was celebrated on Sunday. We stopped on the way at St. Sophia's, an enormous church which served as St. Gregory's cathedral when he was archbishop of the city. It was here that he delivered his famous sermons on the uncreated energies of God.

On Tuesday, we celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation (which is also Greek Independence Day) here in Panorama at our local parish of St. George's. In the afternoon, for the misimeri meal, we were invited to our friend Angela's for fresh fish, baked in the oven, Greek-style. It was delicious. Our friend Philip also met us there.

In the photo, from left to right, is Philip, Angela's son Alexander, and Angela.

Angela is originally from Scotland, where she converted to Orthodoxy back in the early 80s. She then moved to Thessaloniki to study theology and hasn't left. She has been a great friend to us!