It was dawning on January 25, 1944, during the period of the German occupation. The village was asleep, though not without anxiety. The occupiers, enraged by the Resistance which they saw constantly growing stronger, were roaming towns and villages, carrying out searches and arrests of suspects, and spreading death without mercy. Delvinaki too was awaiting its turn… And it was that morning, at daybreak on January 25, when the news arrived that set the village on alert:
“Germans! The Germans are coming!”
Within a few minutes all the villagers gathered in the central square. There, near the large plane tree of the village opposite the community office, was a café where the resistance groups had brought munitions — arms, hand grenades, and whatever else they had in order to strike the enemy. They had intended to hide them in a safer place, but they did not have time. And now? Now that the Germans would soon arrive there? What were they to do?
The hour was critical. With every minute that passed, they felt as though they were being brought closer to death. They covered the military equipment as best they could with charcoal and firewood that happened to be nearby. In any case, the spot was not safe. Then someone said:
“Today is the feast of Saint Gregory the Theologian. Let us pray to the Saint to help us! God is great! He will not abandon us.”
Everyone agreed. Hearts frozen with fear began to grow warm. They went off to their homes and their work so as not to arouse suspicion. And all of them, from the depths of their hearts, were invoking the Saint whom until then they had not really known well. But now they felt him beside them!
And indeed the Germans came. They gathered the men of the village in the square and themselves carried out inspections at various places and houses in the village. One villager paid with his life for the few cartridges that were found in his home. The occupiers were not joking. They entered the central café as well. Anxiety reached its peak, and prayer now grew even stronger. If they were to find the weapons that had been gathered there, they would surely kill them all.
At that moment, completely unexpectedly, a flare was heard and lit up the sky, signaling that the searches were to stop and that the German detachment was to assemble for withdrawal. The relief for the village was indescribable. Everyone attributed the unexpected gift to the protection of Saint Gregory.
From then on Delvinaki greatly loved Saint Gregory the Theologian. It built a small church in his honor to commemorate the miracle in 1946, at the initiative of Artemis Hatzinikolaos and with money from all the people of Delvinaki, and every year it celebrates his memory with solemnity, processing his icon through the streets of the village. They also petitioned the state, and it was accepted by special decree (1965) that Saint Gregory be designated the patron saint of Delvinaki, and that January 25 be established as a day of honor and gratitude in his memory.
“Germans! The Germans are coming!”
Within a few minutes all the villagers gathered in the central square. There, near the large plane tree of the village opposite the community office, was a café where the resistance groups had brought munitions — arms, hand grenades, and whatever else they had in order to strike the enemy. They had intended to hide them in a safer place, but they did not have time. And now? Now that the Germans would soon arrive there? What were they to do?
The hour was critical. With every minute that passed, they felt as though they were being brought closer to death. They covered the military equipment as best they could with charcoal and firewood that happened to be nearby. In any case, the spot was not safe. Then someone said:
“Today is the feast of Saint Gregory the Theologian. Let us pray to the Saint to help us! God is great! He will not abandon us.”
Everyone agreed. Hearts frozen with fear began to grow warm. They went off to their homes and their work so as not to arouse suspicion. And all of them, from the depths of their hearts, were invoking the Saint whom until then they had not really known well. But now they felt him beside them!
And indeed the Germans came. They gathered the men of the village in the square and themselves carried out inspections at various places and houses in the village. One villager paid with his life for the few cartridges that were found in his home. The occupiers were not joking. They entered the central café as well. Anxiety reached its peak, and prayer now grew even stronger. If they were to find the weapons that had been gathered there, they would surely kill them all.
At that moment, completely unexpectedly, a flare was heard and lit up the sky, signaling that the searches were to stop and that the German detachment was to assemble for withdrawal. The relief for the village was indescribable. Everyone attributed the unexpected gift to the protection of Saint Gregory.
From then on Delvinaki greatly loved Saint Gregory the Theologian. It built a small church in his honor to commemorate the miracle in 1946, at the initiative of Artemis Hatzinikolaos and with money from all the people of Delvinaki, and every year it celebrates his memory with solemnity, processing his icon through the streets of the village. They also petitioned the state, and it was accepted by special decree (1965) that Saint Gregory be designated the patron saint of Delvinaki, and that January 25 be established as a day of honor and gratitude in his memory.
