The Orange (Portokali) nightclub and events venue in Gerani was filled with people on the night of Wednesday 19th April, responding to an invitation to a charity event by the Metropolitan See of Kissamos and Selino.

Accompanying Amphilochios, the Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selino, were Metropolitans Damaskinos of Kydonias and Apokoronas, Theodoritos of Laodicea (the head of the office of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Athens, as guest of Metropolitan Damaskinos), and Prodromos of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos, along with clerics of all ranks from the Sees of Kydonias and Apokoronas and Kissamos and Selino.

Also present were local MPs, the mayor of Kissamos Giorgos Mylonakis, the mayor of Platanias Giannis Malandrakis, the head of the Cretan Police, deputy mayors, Regional and Municipal Councillors, electoral candidates from across the political spectrum and many others, altogether numbering more than a thousand.

The traditional cultural evening included a rich programme of Cretan music provided by the internationally renowned Antonis Martsakis and his group, along with six groups of artists of recognised standing from six different schools of traditional music and Cretan dance. Both Mr Martsakis and the dance schools, as well as the venue, offered all their services free of charge in support of the charitable event, which had a twofold purpose. The first was the support of a family with many children which needed financial assistance for a serious operation for one of its members, and the second was to cover additional costs associated with the pilgrimage to the church of St Nikiforos the Leper in his home village of Sirikari, who took place in early January of this year.

In his words of welcome, Metropolitan Amphilochios referred to the miracle of the Resurrection and expressed his appreciation of the warmth and generosity of the assembled company, adding: “Today we are experiencing another miracle of our great and wonder-working Saint Nikiforos the Leper, who is the person who has brought us all to this joyful occasion.” He then made special mention of the venue’s owner Kyriakos Papasifakis, the businessman and major benefactor of the Metropolitan See, Iakovos Chondrakis, the musician Antonios Martsakis and the heads of the six traditional artistic groups, thanking them for the generous donation of their services.

There followed the benediction of the meal by Metropolitan Theodoritos of Laodicea, to whom Amphilochios extended a special welcome, finally thanking Archimandrite Chrysanthos Tsachakis for organising the event. There was an ample spread of traditional delicacies, and a raffle with expensive gifts, all donated for free.

(https://www.haniotika-nea.gr/plithos-kosmoy-se-ekdilosi-tis-i-m-kissamoy-amp-selinoy/)