Papa-Demetrios Gagastathis Unanimously Proposed for Sainthood by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece

The Sacred Metropolis of Trikki, Gardiki and Pyli announced with deep emotion that the Permanent Holy 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 in the Hagiological Registery of the Church, and submitted a relevant request to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The official synodal document states:

 

A submitted request of His Eminence Metropolitan of Trikki, Gardiki and Pyli, Mr. Chrysostomos.

It was decided to inscribe in the Hagiological Registery of the Church the priest Demetrios Gagastathis, a man universally acknowledged by the fullness of Christians for his holiness and Orthodox life.

January 29, the day of his repose, was designated as his day of commemoration.

Papa-Demetri, as the people affectionately called him, was a priest of prayer, humility and unceasing ministry.

The fame of his holiness remains alive, and a multitude of believers continue to resort to his prayers.

The Sacred Metropolis of Trikki, Gardiki and Pyli, with prayer and reverence, awaits the decision of the Mother Church, through His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch, for the official inscription of the blessed priest among the Saints.

With deep emotion,

+ Chrysostomos of Trikki, Gardiki and Pyli

 

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

 

Monk Christophoros Panagiotopoulos, the so-called "Papoulakos", Has Been Proposed for Canonization by the Church of Greece to the Ecumenical Patriarchate

With much joy, the Sacred Metropolis of Kalavryta and Aegialia has informed its pious people that the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, during its session on May 11, 2023, decided to forward to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for final approval the proposal of the Metropolis of Kalavryta regarding the canonization of the Venerable Monk Christophoros Panagiotopoulos, the so-called "Papoulakos" (+ 1861), from Armpounas of Kalavryta, who was a "chosen vessel" of the Lord during the difficult period of the 19th century to be a new Apostle of Orthodoxy to the people of Greece.

Metropolitan Hieronymos of Kalavryta and Aegialia has expressed his heartfelt and grateful thanks on his own behalf and on behalf of his flock to His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and all Greece and the Seven Members of the Permanent Holy Synod for the solemn approval of the canonization proposal in question. His Eminence Metropolitan Kallinikos of Artis, a Regular Member of the Synodal Committee, drafted the above-mentioned theologically documented and highly detailed proposal.