Agrypnia in Honor of St. Philaret the Merciful

At the Convent of St. Paraskeve in Acharnai, Attica

December 1, 2025 (Old Style)

On Friday night, November 29, 2025 (Old Calendar), the St. Philaret the Merciful Guild held, transferred from its appointed day, its annual festal and Eucharistic Agrypnia at the Convent of St. Paraskeve in Acharnes, Attica, on the commemoration of its Patron, St. Philaret the Merciful. The vigil was celebrated together with the commemoration of St. Andrew the First‑Called Apostle.

The entire Vigil was presided over by His Eminence, Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Phyle, assisted by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Theodosios, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saints Cyprian and Justina, together with the Reverend Fathers Angelos Mourlas and Konstantinos Sotiriadis. Also serving were Hierodeacon Gabriel of the Holy Monastery of Saints Cyprian and Justina and two Subdeacons.

The Reverend Mother Nikodimi of the Holy Hesychasterion of the Panagia Portaitissa in Phyle, nuns, from the Convent of the Holy Angels (Aphidnes, Attica), members of the Guild’s Board of Directors, as well as many faithful laypeople were present at the Vigil. Most of those in attendance communed of the Immaculate Mysteries.

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At the end of the Agrypnia, our Most Reverend Shepherd offered doxology and thanksgiving to our Lord, Who vouchsafed us to keep vigil and to pray for ourselves and for the whole world, and to partake of the Immaculate Mysteries.

He then delivered a homily, as summarized below.

We celebrate today St. Philaret, the Patron of the philanthropic work of our Metropolis, who since 2004 has helped us and strengthened us in the difficult moments through which our Guild has passed, for such an undertaking is not an easy thing.

I also thank those persons who contributed to and participated in this effort, especially the Presidents, Mrs. Eirini Archontouli, Mrs. Despina Livizou, and Mrs. Athena Choriatopoulou; the Members of the successive Administrative Councils; and in particular the current assitants, Mrs. Aimilia Goufa and Mrs. Aikaterina Kati, as well as the other Members of the Guild.

The matter of offering is not a simple one. One encounters many difficulties, but we discover that as we help the poor and face many problems and obstacles, in the end we who offer are benefited even more than those who receive.

In this effort, we train ourselves in the work of love and compassion, and in the work of inner mercy.

For this reason, let us have patience; let us see behind every difficulty an opportunity to advance spiritually, to be exercised in deeper love and in the acquisition of the Gift of Mercy.

For almsgiving is not only something external; rather, our heart must first become merciful. “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” our Lord tells us. By means of philanthropy, we have the great blessing to labor in this direction, and for this reason we must work with great willingness and good disposition. For in showing mercy to others we draw the Mercy of God into our hearts; we ourselves become merciful and compassionate, and we are made worthy of the divine Beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

For this reason, the work performed by an institution dedicated to philanthropy has great value before God. The poor have always existed and always will exist. We offer them some relief, but we ourselves are the ones who benefit.

We also thank St. Andrew, since the Agrypnia allowed us to celebrate the two Saints together. And we ask him to guide us in our witness of the Faith—the Apostolic Witness—and also in the Orthodox Ethos.

May the remainder of the Fast be peaceful, sinless, and blessed. Let us prepare ourselves to offer our own gifts to our Lord. Each of us, according to his strength, with the blessing and guidance of his spiritual Father, may offer something—sacrificially, with thanksgiving—to the Infant, to Him Who comes and remains ever our great Companion and Benefactor, Who has exalted our nature to the throne of the Godhead…

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At the conclusion of the holy Vigil, a special commemorative gift was distributed to the faithful. The President, Mrs. Athena, then offered to our Most Reverend Metropolitan, on behalf of the Members of the Guild, a symbolic gift: a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a letter of gratitude, as an expression of their thankfulness for his paternal care, inspiration, and support.