Every year in the month of May, Corfu honors the memory of Serbian soldiers who sought refuge on the island during the First World War, finding there a place of hospitality and care. Within the framework of this year’s events, religious and cultural activities were held with the participation of representatives of the Serbian Church and State, the local Church of Corfu, and a large number of faithful, highlighting the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two peoples.
As part of this year’s celebrations, on Friday, May 1, events took place in the area of Liapades, Corfu, in the presence of His Grace Bishop Paisios of Diocleia, Auxiliary Bishop to His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannikios of Montenegro, representing His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, and Archimandrite Methodios, Abbot of the Holy and Stavropegial Monastery of Hilandar on Mount Athos.
On the morning of Saturday, May 2, at the mausoleum of the Serbian soldiers on the island of Vido, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated, presided over by His Grace Bishop Paisios of Diocleia, and concelebrated, among others, by the holy Abbot of the Monastery of Hilandar, Methodios. Also present were representatives of the state authorities of Serbia, the Consul of Serbia in Corfu, Mr. Zeljko Popovic, as well as representatives of the local authorities of Corfu.
On the evening of the same day, events of Greek–Serbian friendship were held at the Garitsa Grove in the city of Corfu, with the participation of local authorities, political representatives, and a large crowd. The program included traditional dances, musical performances, and cultural elements from both peoples. His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos, and the Diapontian Islands also addressed the event, emphasizing the enduring bonds of faith and history that unite Greece and Serbia. The Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Stefanos Gikas, was also present and delivered greetings.
Finally, on Sunday, May 3 (Sunday of the Paralytic), a Hierarchical concelebration was held at the Holy Shrine of Saint Spyridon, presided over by His Grace Bishop Paisios of Diocleia, and concelebrated by the local Metropolitan Nektarios, Abbot Methodios, Archimandrite Christodoulos Triantafyllos, and other Serbian and local clergy.
During the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Nektarios invited Abbot Methodios to deliver a spiritual address to the congregation. Referring to the Gospel of the Sunday of the Paralytic and the teaching of the Holy Fathers, with emphasis on the interpretation of Saint Nikolaj Velimirović, he highlighted that the trials and difficulties of life are not dead ends, but can serve as a means of healing and spiritual maturity when faced with faith in God. Just as a patient accepts bitter medicine in hope of healing, so too is the believer called to accept trials as opportunities for salvation. At the same time, he stressed that the light of the Resurrection is not limited to a single feast but is meant to illuminate the whole life of the believer, so that one may truly become a child of the Resurrection.
