In the southernmost regions Antikythera, was celebrated as it is every year. Transfer of the Holy Relics of Saint Nicholas, in the church of the same name that dominates the picturesque harbor of the small island and was built between 1780 and 1800 by Cretan refugees from the province of Kissamos.
The Holy Services were performed by Archimandrite, Father Dionysios Mallios, as the planned dance performance of His Eminence, Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythira was canceled due to very adverse weather conditions. Present were Mayor of Kythira and Antikythira, Mr. Efstratios Charhalakis and President of the Community of Antikythira, Mr. Georgios Charhalakis with island residents, fewer than in previous years due to the pandemic.
The Holy Temple of St. Nicholas has been renovated in recent years, thanks to the care of its committee members and residents, as well as the Greek diaspora. The most recent donation, just a few weeks ago, was the new church furnishings for the Temple from Mr. Dionysios Galanas, a Greek expatriate from Antikythera living in the United States. The most recent donation, a few weeks ago, was the new church furnishings for the church from Dionysios Galanakis, a distinguished doctor in New York, who is of Cythirian descent. The opening ceremony of the renovated church was performed in 2011 by His Eminence, Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythira.
In 1087, the Latins took the holy relics of St. Nicholas from Myra in Lycia and transported them to Bari in Italy, where they remain to this day. And, of course, the ship carrying the precious treasure sailed the waters between Kythira and Crete, blessing and sanctifying the sailors and the sea. and surely the ship that carried the precious treasure sailed the waters between Kythira and Crete, blessing and sanctifying our sailors and our seas.
