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| The Veli Pasha Mosque in Ioannina |
By Christos Klitsinaris
The Veli Pasha Mosque between the Cultural Center and the People's Market of our city (Ioannina), was built about 200 years ago by Veli, son of Ali Pasha, on the site of another mosque, built in 1670.
However, in order to build this mosque, a famous Byzantine church of Ioannina, of the today celebrated Protomartyr of Christianity, Saint Stephen, was demolished.
I remember as a child some elders when they passed by there making the sign of the cross. Should we, the people of Ioannina today, also make our cross as a testimony when we pass by there? After all, these were sacred grounds that were desecrated.
I remember as a child some elders when they passed by there making the sign of the cross. Should we, the people of Ioannina today, also make our cross as a testimony when we pass by there? After all, these were sacred grounds that were desecrated.
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| Church of Saint Marina in Ioannina |
In memory of this Sacred Temple of the Protomartyr Stephen that was demolished, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy is celebrated every year in the nearby Church of Saint Marina.
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| Consecration of the Chapel of St. Stephen at Dourachani Monastery |
Yesterday at Vespers, His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos of Ioannina celebrated the consecration of a sacred chapel dedicated to the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen. It is located in the Sacred Monastery of Dourachani, near the tomb of Papa-Thanasis.**
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| Dourachani Monastery in Ioannina |
Papa-Thanasis had great reverence for the Protomartyr Stephen and when he mentioned his name, tears flowed from his eyes. He said, weeping, "He was a young man who fought with all the Scribes and Pharisees. 'You crucified Him,' he told them, 'and God raised Him up.' They stoned him like wild beasts, and the Protomartyr Stephen, dying, asked Christ not to hold this sin against them. This is our Holy Faith: while they kill us, whether with swords and stones, or with words, we should forgive them."
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| Elder Athanasios of Dourachani (+ 2021) |
In the Sacred Monastery of Dourachani there is also an Honorable Relic of the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen.
Source: Written on December 27, 2024. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Notes:
* Photos of the feast of Saint Stephen celebrated at the Church of Saint Marina in Ioannina can be seen here. In this church there is a sacred icon of Saint Stephen to honor his memory.
Source: Written on December 27, 2024. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Notes:
* Photos of the feast of Saint Stephen celebrated at the Church of Saint Marina in Ioannina can be seen here. In this church there is a sacred icon of Saint Stephen to honor his memory.
** The consecration of the chapel took place during the Festal Vespers on December 26th 2024. The feast of Saint Stephen is December 27th, while the Translation of his Sacred relics is celebrated on August 2nd. Photos of the event can be seen here.
