On the fourth Sunday after Easter (Sunday of the Paralytic), May 3, 2026, Euboea and the Northern Sporades islands celebrated their patrons and protectors, the Saints of Euboea, at the homonymous Parish Church dedicated to them, located in the district of Exo Panagitsa in Chalkida. The celebration was held with the participation of four Hierarchs: His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Karystia and Skyros, His Eminence Metropolitan Nikandros of Eirinoupolis (from the Ecumenical Patriarchate), His Grace Bishop Ioannis of Skiathos, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, and His Eminence our Shepherd, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida, Istiaia and the Northern Sporades, together with the clergy of Chalkida and a large number of devout faithful who, despite unsettled weather conditions, filled the church throughout the two-day feast.
On Saturday afternoon, May 2, 2026, the Festal Vespers service took place, presided over and preached by His Grace Bishop Ioannis of Skiathos, with the participation of Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida.
In his sermon, Bishop Ioannis, using as a starting point the period of waiting of the Paralytic before Christ healed him, explained that the life of man is divided into the period before and after his encounter with Christ. The time before this encounter must be a path of patience and preparation, so that Christ may heal and sanctify each person. After this encounter, the believer’s path becomes one of humility and discernment, so that Christ goes before him, and the reborn person in Christ follows in His footsteps.
This is precisely what happened in the lives of each of the Saints of Euboea, who lived in different eras, and whose struggles and endurance became their path to meeting Christ. Thus, as His saints, they now shine as our protectors and as examples of holy life for every Christian.
On Sunday morning, May 3, Matins was celebrated, presided over by Metropolitan Nikandros of Eirinoupolis, followed by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, presided over and preached by Metropolitan Seraphim of Karystia and Skyros, with the co-celebration of the other three hierarchs mentioned above.
In his sermon, Metropolitan Seraphim presented patristic wisdom concerning the veneration of the holy relics of the saints of the Church, as well as the significance of the charity of Tabitha (Acts 9:32–42) and the healing miracles of Christ for the paralytic (John 5:1–15) and the Apostle Peter.
Before the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, festive kollyva (boiled wheat offerings) of the Saints were blessed by the hierarchs, and Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida expressed his gratitude to the hierarchs for their presence, as well as to all those who contributed to the organization and success of the feast. He especially thanked the parish priest Archimandrite Damaskinos Papakonstantinou and the Parish Council, as well as the volunteers and chanters who work together for the spiritual benefit and good works of the parish.
Among those present were Members of Parliament of Euboea, the Mayor of Chalkida Ms. Eleni Vaka, Deputy Mayors and Municipal Councillors of Chalkida, and many municipal employees, since after the establishment in 1970 of the feast of the Synaxis of all Saints of Euboea, they were also designated as patrons of the municipal employees of Chalkida.
The faithful also had the opportunity to venerate holy relics of many of the Saints of Euboea, including Saint Riginos of Skopelos, Saint Nicholas the Sicilian, Saint Timotheos of Euripus, Saint Kosmas the Aitolian, Saint Nektarios, Saint Daniel of Katounakia, the Holy Head of Saint David of Euboea, and sacred vestments of Saint Ioannis the Russian.
It is noted that the known saints connected with Euboea and the Northern Sporades include:
Apostle Paul, Saint Methodios of Olympus, Saint Riginos, Saint Theophilos of Oreoi, Saint Philitos of Oreoi, Saint Nikon the “Repentant,” Saint Christodoulos of Patmos, Saint Nicholas the Sicilian, Saint Gregory of Strongyli, Saint Theophylact of Bulgaria (the Chalkidian), Saint Euthymios the hermit, Saint Daniel the Stylite, Saint Michael Choniates, Saint Anthimos of Athens and Euripus, Saint Gerasimos of Sinai (the Euboean), Saint Joseph the Euboean, Saint Sabbas the New, Saint Timotheos of Euripus, the New Martyr Theophanes, Saint Symeon the barefoot, Saint David of Euboea, New Martyr Gerasimos of Megalochori, Saint Ioannis the Russian, Saint Neophytos the Recluse, Saint Kosmas the Aitolian, Saint Ierotheos of Kalamata, Saint Nikodimos the Athonite, Saint Niphon of Skiathos, Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis, Saint Porphyrios the Kafsokalivite, Saint Iakovos (Tsalikis), and Saint Daniel of Katounakia.
