Joyfully, the bells are ringing today at the Sacred Metropolis of Trikki, Gardiki and Pyli with the news coming from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who accepted today, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the relevant dossier and inscribed Protopresbyter Demetrios Gagastathis in the Hagiologion of the Orthodox Church.
It should be noted that the Permanent Sacred Synod of the Church of Greece, during its session on March 11, 2025, unanimously accepted the proposal for the classification of the late Protopresbyter Demetrios Gagastathis (+ January 29, 1975) into the Hagiologion of the Church, and submitted a relevant request to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Announcement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate
The Ecumenical Patriarchate issued the following statement:
It should be noted that the Permanent Sacred Synod of the Church of Greece, during its session on March 11, 2025, unanimously accepted the proposal for the classification of the late Protopresbyter Demetrios Gagastathis (+ January 29, 1975) into the Hagiologion of the Church, and submitted a relevant request to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Announcement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate
The Ecumenical Patriarchate issued the following statement:
The Holy and Sacred Synod convened under the presidency of His All-Holiness on Tuesday, July 8th, and Wednesday, July 9th, 2025, for its regular monthly sessions.
During the second session, upon the proposal of the Canonical Committee, the priest Demetrios Gagastathis from the Sacred Metropolis of Trikki, Gardiki and Pyli was listed in the Hagiologion of the Eastern Orthodox Church, being distinguished for his virtues of mercifulness, philanthropy, and absolute dedication and trust in the will of the Lord.
During these sessions, all items on the agenda were considered, and appropriate decisions were made regarding them.
From the Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
Reaction of Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Trikki
His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Trikki gave an interview to the Ecclesiastical News Agency Romfea.gr, on the occasion of the official announcement of the canonization of Father Demetrios Gagastathis by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
His Eminence expressed his joy and emotion for the decision, emphasizing: "We read with great joy the official announcement of the canonization of Father Demetrios, from Platanos. It is a special day for all of us."
His Eminence continued by adding that "for my humbleness, it is a special honor and emotion that His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Mr. Hieronymos, and the Permanent Sacred Synod of the Church of Greece approved my proposal and sent it to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We are deeply grateful to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew, and the Holy and Sacred Synod concerning him, who with paternal wisdom and discernment proceeded with the canonization of Father Demetrios."
"Our Patriarch knows how to recognize holiness where it is truly manifested. This decision brought tears of joy to all who knew the Saint up close," the Metropolitan of Trikki added characteristically to Romfea.gr.
Also, His Eminence mentioned: "Last Saturday I had the blessing of visiting Platanos, the village of the Saint, and celebrating the feast of our Panagia the Plataniotissa. The old people, with tears in their eyes, spoke to me about his holy life, his silence, his prayer, his humility, his love for all. A life dedicated to God and to man."
"In closing, allow me to add a personal emotion: on this day, July 9 (2003), the late Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Panteleimon II Chrysofakis, a great ecclesiastical figure who marked my spiritual formation, passed away. And my emotion is even deeper because on the day that the funeral service for Father Demetrios was held, on January 30, 1975, I was born. I do not consider it simply a circumstantial event, but a secret connection, a sign of Divine Providence that illuminates and gives meaning to my path to this day," said the moved Metropolitan of Trikki Chrysostomos.
Finally, His Eminence said: "Tomorrow, Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 9:00 pm to 00:30 after midnight, we will celebrate the first Hierarchical Vigil at the Sacred Metropolitan Church of Saint Nicholas of Trikala, in honor of Saint Demetrios of Platanos, Trikala. May Saint Demetrios intercede for all of us."
During the second session, upon the proposal of the Canonical Committee, the priest Demetrios Gagastathis from the Sacred Metropolis of Trikki, Gardiki and Pyli was listed in the Hagiologion of the Eastern Orthodox Church, being distinguished for his virtues of mercifulness, philanthropy, and absolute dedication and trust in the will of the Lord.
During these sessions, all items on the agenda were considered, and appropriate decisions were made regarding them.
From the Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
Reaction of Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Trikki
His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Trikki gave an interview to the Ecclesiastical News Agency Romfea.gr, on the occasion of the official announcement of the canonization of Father Demetrios Gagastathis by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
His Eminence expressed his joy and emotion for the decision, emphasizing: "We read with great joy the official announcement of the canonization of Father Demetrios, from Platanos. It is a special day for all of us."
His Eminence continued by adding that "for my humbleness, it is a special honor and emotion that His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Mr. Hieronymos, and the Permanent Sacred Synod of the Church of Greece approved my proposal and sent it to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We are deeply grateful to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew, and the Holy and Sacred Synod concerning him, who with paternal wisdom and discernment proceeded with the canonization of Father Demetrios."
"Our Patriarch knows how to recognize holiness where it is truly manifested. This decision brought tears of joy to all who knew the Saint up close," the Metropolitan of Trikki added characteristically to Romfea.gr.
Also, His Eminence mentioned: "Last Saturday I had the blessing of visiting Platanos, the village of the Saint, and celebrating the feast of our Panagia the Plataniotissa. The old people, with tears in their eyes, spoke to me about his holy life, his silence, his prayer, his humility, his love for all. A life dedicated to God and to man."
"In closing, allow me to add a personal emotion: on this day, July 9 (2003), the late Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Panteleimon II Chrysofakis, a great ecclesiastical figure who marked my spiritual formation, passed away. And my emotion is even deeper because on the day that the funeral service for Father Demetrios was held, on January 30, 1975, I was born. I do not consider it simply a circumstantial event, but a secret connection, a sign of Divine Providence that illuminates and gives meaning to my path to this day," said the moved Metropolitan of Trikki Chrysostomos.
Finally, His Eminence said: "Tomorrow, Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 9:00 pm to 00:30 after midnight, we will celebrate the first Hierarchical Vigil at the Sacred Metropolitan Church of Saint Nicholas of Trikala, in honor of Saint Demetrios of Platanos, Trikala. May Saint Demetrios intercede for all of us."
