Greek Americans pay respects kneeling before the miraculous icon of St. Irene Chrysovalantou (video)

This is the established litany of the miraculous icon, which took place immediately after the Divine Liturgy and the Artoklasia presided over by the Metropolitan of Elis, Mr. Athanasios.

The procession started from the homonymous Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery, moved west on 23rd Avenue and entered 33rd Street (Archbishop Iakovos Street) and made a stop in the courtyard of the church of Saints Catherine and George in Ditmars, where they were welcomed by Bishop Nazianzus, Mr. Athenagoras and the vicar, Fr. Pedro Gomez.

The procession then moved east on Ditmars Avenue until it reached 36th Street, turned right and ended up in the courtyard of the Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou.

After the procession, the Greek festival followed, which provided the pilgrims and other Astorians with the opportunity to enjoy Greek delicacies and cultural events.

Historic festival

This year's festival of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou, which began on Thursday afternoon and concluded on the day of the feast, Monday, July 28, 2025, was historic on the one hand due to the participation of the Metropolitan of Elis, Mr. Athanasios, and on the other hand, because it was the first festival under the guidance of the abbot of the Monastery, Archimandrite Meletios.

The abbot, as the website “Anamniseis” wrote, was enthroned and officially assumed his duties on Sunday, February 9, 2025.

On Saturday evening, immediately after the performance of the Folklore Group of America, the abbot, Mr. Meletios, welcomed the Metropolitan of Elis, Mr. Athanasios, and the clergy who participated in the hierarchal vespers and the blessing of the apples, and expressed his gratitude for the Folklore Group of America, which has been participating in the festivals of the Monastery for four decades.

At the same time, he expressed his gratitude for the chairman of the council – Archon Nikitas Theologitis, for the administrator of the Monastery, Mr. Yannis Kotsaridis, the executives and the Philoptochos Brotherhood and for the dozens of volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the four days of the festival and contributed to its success.

He made special mention of the festival's donors, who responded to their call.