From the 12th to the 16th of June, a delegation of the Municipality of Kythera headed by the Mayor Mr. Eustr. Harhalakis, was in the Peloponnese on the occasion of the official twinning ceremony of the Municipality of Kythera with the Municipality of Pylos-Nestoros of Messinia, as unanimously decided by the Municipal Councils of the two Municipalities. The mission was attended by the Bishop of Kythera and Antikythera, Mr. Seraphim, after his associates, presenting for pilgrimage the most ancient print of the Icon of the Virgin Mary of Myrtidiotissa and the Holy Kara of Saint Theodoros, who came from Koroni, the President of the Property Department, Mr. Ev. Mr. Ev. Mr. Venevard, Mr. Venevard with the members of the Board of Directors of the Holy Sanctuary of Panagia Myrtidiotissa, the Municipal Councillor Mr. Anargyros Sophios and the Director of the Municipality Mrs. Polyxeni Alexenis Alexidou.
On Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June, the Holy Hierarchs of Kythera remained in the town of Gythio, where they were received by the Local Authorities, headed by the relevant Metropolitan, Rev. Mani Mr. Chrysostomos and the Mayor of Eastern Mani Mr. Petros Andreakos with their associates. Vespers was celebrated at the Metropolitan Church of St. George of Gythio and on Thursday 13/6 Panhellenic Divine Liturgy at the celebrating cemetery Church of the Ascension. At the cemetery of Gytheion, a Trisagion was held at the memorial of the ever-deceased Bishops of Gytheion, Otilos and Kythera Sotirios Kitsos (1969-1974 & 1979-1980) and Prokopios Kalliontzis (1936-1940). Subsequently, the Holy Mass was celebrated in the renovated building of the Githio Police Station, which is owned by the Municipality of Kythera and is under the administration of the Property Department (legacy of Elias Thliveros / Holy Shrine of Panagia Myrtidiotissa).
In the afternoon of Thursday 13/6, there was a solemn reception of the Kythera mission in front of the Metropolitan Church of Ypapanti Kalamata, by His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia, the Mayor of Kalamata Mr. Thanasis Vassilopoulos, a number of priests and believers, where a Doxology was held. On the morning of Saturday 15/6 the relevant Pastor welcomed the visitors from Kythera at the Metropolitan Hall where they exchanged greetings and gifts, while during the two-day stay in Kalamata there were visits to historical Holy Monasteries of the Metropolis of Messinia, among which the Voulkanos Monastery and the Monastery of Velanidia, where Gregory Dikaios - Papaflessas had been monastic.
On Saturday afternoon, the icon of Myrtidiotissa and the Holy Kara of Saint Theodoros, after the Kytherian delegation, were warmly received at the Holy Church of Our Lady of Myrtidiotissa of Pylos, where a Great Vespers was celebrated. The Church was originally built as a small brick church in 1831 by Kythirians who brought to Pylos a large icon of Panagia Myrtidiotissa and since then it has been the Patron Saint and Protectress of the city and the entire region. The official twinning ceremony of the two municipalities followed, at the historic House of the Olympic champion Tsiklitiras in the port of Pylos, where the relevant twinning protocol was signed by the Mayors of Pylos-Nestoros Mr. Panagiotis Karvelas and Kythera Mr. Efstratios Harhalakis.
On the morning of Sunday 16/6, a Pan-Holy Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Holy Church of Panagia Eleistria in the city of Koroni, the homeland and birthplace of Saint Theodoros, whose inhabitants received and venerated the Holy Kara of their compatriot Saint whom they venerate with great emotion.
The five-day events were concluded with a visit to the Holy Church of St. George of Koroni, next to which is the plot of land where, according to local tradition, there was the paternal home of Saint Theodoros, with the commitment of the Mayor and Metropolitan of Kythera to proceed - in cooperation with the local Metropolis and the relevant Municipality - to the placement of a dedicatory plaque that will inform residents and visitors.
The Municipality of Kythera feels the need to deeply thank the Holy Metropolises of Mani and Messinia as well as the Municipality of Pylos-Nestoros for the warmest welcome and hospitality in their areas, committing to reciprocate at the first opportunity.
The twinning of municipalities is an opportunity to strengthen relations between areas with common characteristics and/or with common historical, religious and cultural origins and as the Municipality of Kythera we will continue to promote and strengthen them.
