The Assumption of the Virgin Mary at the Vatopedi Monastery: Spiritual discourses at the Tabernacle

The celebration of the great Theotokos feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, on Mount Athos, culminated with splendor and devotion on Friday, August 28, 2026 (15/08/26 BC). The solemn Divine Liturgy was presided over by the Metropolitan of Patras, Chrysostomos, while the Metropolitan of Ireland, Iakovos, the Bishop of Eumenia, Irenaeus, the Bishop of Znepole, Meletios, and the Abbot of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Elder Ephraim, concelebrated. A special moment of the solemn Divine Liturgy was the performance of the rasoeuche of a monk, who received the name Matthias, now entering a new period of his monastic journey.

After the Divine Liturgy, a festive meal was served, according to the Athonite order. In his address, Elder Ephraim referred to the person of the Most Holy Theotokos, while at the same time thanking the Hierarchs for their presence. In his response, Metropolitan of Patras, Mr. Chrysostomos, initially expressed his admiration for the spiritual work of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi. He characterized Athonite monasticism as “a miracle and an answer to the materialistic world”, emphasizing that it constitutes “a resistance to the secularized mentality of the world”. His Eminence concluded his response with a brief reference to a hymn by Saint John of Damascus which highlights the Virgin Mary as the constant refuge and consolation of the faithful.