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Bright and Overwhelming Vigil for Saint Nicodemus in the Holy Trinity of Mideatranslated

July 14, 2026 · 1 min read

In an atmosphere of deep spirituality, overwhelming silence and holy emotion, the solemn memory of Agios Nicodemus of Agioreitos was celebrated in the cemetery church of the same name, in Agia Triada Midea. On Monday, July 13, 2026, the eve of the feast of this great Father of the Church, the residents of the village, as well as a number of pilgrims from the wider region, experienced a unique, almost saintly, experience of prayer.

The Holy Vigil started at 21:00 in the evening, turning the holy temple into a small paradise on earth. The overwhelming half-light, the flickering candle lights illuminating the faces of the Saints in the hagiographies and the fragrant holy incense rising towards the dome, created the ideal atmosphere for inner searching.

At Vespers the priests celebrated: Protopresbyter Fr. Ioannis Gionis, Fr. Dimitrios Stergiou and Fr. Vasilios Golemis, supported by the vicar of the Church, Fr. Ioannis Mitrosylis.

This overwhelming experience was lifted by the sacred chants. Under the dim light of the candles, the Byzantine Choir "Saint Peter Bishop of Argos", under the excellent direction of the choir master Mr. Ioannis Haviarlis, performed the hymns in Byzantine...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Hannah AdamsThe choir from Agios Petros sounded lovely under those candlelit conditions. I especially liked that they used the Athonite incense – it must have filled the little cemetery church beautifully. Did the vigil go on till dawn?

James BennettThe candlelit Byzantine choir from Agios Petros must have been something special in that little cemetery church. I didn't know they used real Athonite incense there too. Did the vigil actually run all the way till dawn like they do on the Holy Mountain?

Matthew CampbellThe choir really did sound beautiful in that dim light—I’ve heard them before and they never disappoint. The Athonite incense was strong enough you could almost taste it, which fit the vigil perfectly. Yes, they kept going right until sunrise, just like on the Holy Mountain.

Rebecca SmithThe incense was so thick in there it reminded me of the times I’ve helped clean the church the next morning – everything still smelled of it for days. I thought the choir’s “Άγιοι Μάρτυρες” especially stood out under those few lamps. Have you been to a vigil on the Holy Mountain yourself?

Helen BennettThe choir under those few lamps really did feel like something straight out of Athos. I sat near the back and the incense hung so heavy my eyes watered a bit, but it kept me awake through the small hours. Have you ever tried making that Athonite blend at home, Matthew?

Alexander WrightThe choir really brought those hymns alive in the half-light, didn't they? I was there for the whole vigil too and that thick Athonite incense stayed with me all the way home in the car. Have you ever visited the cell where St. Nikodemos wrote on the Holy Mountain?