Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Children Celebrate the Patron Saints of Education on a Remote Greek island Without a Priest

 

Arkoi is a small island in the Dodecanese near Patmos, with few inhabitants. The two children of the island have one teacher, but there is no priest, and without a priest there is no Divine Liturgy, no confession, no Holy Communion, unless a special visit is made to them or they go to a more inhabited nearby island.

This past January 30th, however, which is the feast of the Three Hierarchs, who are revered as the patron saints of education, the teacher of the two young boys took it upon himself to honor the Three Hierarchs with his students at a chapel on the island. Here is what he said about it:

"There may not be a priest on the island, but we couldn't help but honor the Patrons of Education and Letters!! Thank you to the few islanders who came and witnessed our school celebration of the Three Hierarchs!!"