‘Hilandar Days’ Successfully Held in the Diocese of Düsseldorf and Germany

From Sunday, December 7, to Sunday, December 14, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop of Düsseldorf and Berlin and Metropolitan of Germany Grigorije, in the cities of Berlin, Hanover, Frankfurt, and Munich, the event ‘Hilandar Days in the Diocese of Düsseldorf and Germany’ was successfully held.

Vespers, Spiritual Talks, and Photo Exhibition in the Church of St. Sava in Berlin

The event began in the evening hours, with the warm reception of the Very Reverend Archimandrite Methodius, the abbot of the Hilandar Monastery, in the Church of St. Sava in Berlin. The host was His Eminence Archbishop of Düsseldorf and Berlin and Metropolitan of Germany Grigorije, together with the clergy of the Berlin St. Sava Church and numerous faithful. Accompanying Abbot Methodius were Hilandar monks Father Milutin and Father Thomas.

According to the program of the visit, after vespers, addresses were given to the parish’s faithful, followed by a spiritual conversation with the Hilandar Monastery abbot, with introductory words by Metropolitan Grigorije. The time spent with the faithful from Germany, which included answers to their questions—most of which concerned the daily monastic challenges on Mount Athos—passed quickly. Afterwards, an exhibition of photographs by Hilandar monk Father Milutin, titled ‘Through the Lens of a Hilandar Monk’, was opened to all present. Through the exhibition, the faithful could visually experience the hidden beauties of Mount Athos, the Holy Imperial Serbian Lavra of Hilandar, and its surroundings. At the farewell, according to established practice, the faithful received blessings from the abbot of the Hilandar brethren, and as a gift for their homes, from the hand of the abbot, blessed icons of the Hilandar Monastery’s Abbess, the Most Holy ‘Three-Handed’ Theotokos.

Vespers and Spiritual Talks in the Church of St. Sava in Hanover

On Wednesday, December 10, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Methodius, with monks Father Thomas and Father Milutin, arrived in Hanover, where, after the solemn vespers in the Church of St. Sava—enriched by the chanting of the choir of the neighboring Greek Church of the Three Hierarchs—in the filled parish hall a spiritual conversation was held in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop of Düsseldorf and Berlin and Metropolitan of Germany Grigorije. In the spirit of celebrating this year’s great jubilee, the 850th anniversary of the birth of St. Sava, the Hilandar Monastery abbot, on this occasion, especially emphasized the importance and duty of preserving the tradition of St. Sava.

Reception with the Mayor of Frankfurt

The next day, the delegation arrived in Frankfurt, where, on the occasion of the abbot of the Hilandar Monastery’s visit to the city, Mr. Mike Josef, the mayor of Frankfurt, hosted a warm reception for His Eminence Metropolitan Grigorije and the Very Reverend Archimandrite Methodius. During the cordial meeting, they spoke about the immeasurable value and influence of Mount Athos and the Hilandar Monastery on the entire Orthodox world. As a sign of gratitude for the respect shown, the Hilandar Monastery abbot presented the mayor with a faithful copy of the wonderworking icon of the Most Holy ‘Three-Handed’ Theotokos.

Vespers, Spiritual Talks, and Photo Exhibition in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Frankfurt

On Friday, December 12, in the afternoon, vespers were served in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Frankfurt, followed by a spiritual conversation with the Very Reverend Archimandrite Methodius. That same evening, with the blessing and in the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Grigorije, an exhibition of photographs by Hilandar monk Father Milutin was opened for the faithful of the Frankfurt parish. A vast number of visitors attended the spiritual talks and the exhibition. Following this gathering, another significant event occurred.

Charity Evening in Frankfurt

In the ceremonial hall of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Frankfurt, a charity evening was held. It was dedicated to the restoration of Hilandar’s estate, Kumica. For all present, the host organized an appropriate cultural and artistic program. All present learned more about the estate itself—that Kumica is one of the historically most significant Monastery properties, located only a few kilometers from Mount Athos, and that the buildings on the estate today are mostly destroyed, with only the remains of ground-floor walls and the Church of St. Charalambos preserved completely. The participants of the charity evening were especially delighted by the vision and blessing of the Hilandar Monastery that the estate be restored with a new purpose—as a resort for group stays of children and youth, with facilities for a certain number of children with special needs.

Divine Hierarchical Liturgy in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ

The next day, on the feast of St. Andrew the First-Called, in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, the Divine Hierarchical Liturgy was served, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Grigorije, with the concelebration of Abbot Methodius and clergy of the Diocese of Düsseldorf and Germany. As in Berlin and Hanover, Hilandar monks Father Milutin and Father Thomas were present during this service. In his festive homily, the abbot of Hilandar Monastery reminded those present of the importance of spiritual and bodily preparation for the approaching feast of the Nativity of Christ. Conveying on this occasion the blessing of the abbot’s throne of the Mother of God in Hilandar, Abbot Methodius gifted all present with icons of the Most Holy ‘Three-Handed’ Theotokos.

Vespers and Spiritual Talks in the Church of St. John Vladimir in Munich

That same day, Abbot Methodius continued his stay in the Diocese of Düsseldorf and Germany by visiting the Church of St. John Vladimir in Munich, where, after the festive vespers, a spiritual conversation took place with the faithful. The spiritual gathering was once again mindfully moderated by His Eminence Metropolitan Grigorije. In the presence of Father Milutin, the author of the photographs, an exhibition of Hilandar photographs was presented to the gathered audience. The meeting with the faithful in Munich was marked by heartfelt emotion, and those present did not miss the unique opportunity to become more closely acquainted with the Garden of the Mother of God and the Hilandar Monastery through beautiful and authentic photographs carefully created over many years.

On the last day of the stay in Germany, on Sunday, December 14, in the Church of St. John Vladimir, the Divine Hierarchical Liturgy was served, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Grigorije, with the concelebration of the Hilandar Monastery abbot Methodius and the clergy of the Diocese of Düsseldorf and Germany.

At the conclusion of the Eucharistic gathering, Abbot Methodius addressed those present, conveyed blessings from Mount Athos and the founders of Hilandar, and gave icons of the Most Holy ‘Three-Handed’ Theotokos.

Thus, with prayer and worship, in the same way as it began—in the glory of God and the Most Holy Theotokos—the event program ‘Hilandar Days in the Diocese of Düsseldorf and Germany’ was officially concluded for this year.

Photo: monk Milutin Hilandarac