Synaxarion of St. Chrysostomos the New, Hierarch and Confessor of Florina

 

This great man in Orthodox Confession, the golden one in speech, wisdom, and life, a High Priest of the Most High, was from Madytos of flourishing Thrace, born of pious parents, Georgios and Melpomeni Kavourides, in the salvific year one thousand eight hundred and seventy (1870).

Having come into life on the day when the Great Luminary of the Church, renowned in Patras and foremost among the Patriarchs, John—rightly surnamed Chrysostom—is honored, this new Chrysostom was shown to be a lover of wisdom from above and at the same time a most fervent zealot of service in the courts of the Lord, thus becoming an imitator of his very own patron, living, teaching, and confessing in accordance with his name.

He studied, excelling in all things, the sacred science at the Theological School of Halki in Constantinople. He served as First Deacon of the Patriarchate, Preacher of Panormos, Grand Archdeacon of the Patriarchate, and was ordained Bishop of Imbros in the year one thousand nine hundred and eight (1908). After four years, he was promoted to Metropolitan of Pelagonia in Macedonia, and later served as Metropolitan of Filiates and Giromeri. Subsequently, he became Metropolitan of Florina, eventually resigning for health reasons after six years of pastoral service (1932).

By divine will, in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-five (1935), having taken the helm of those who rejected the Calendar Reform adopted in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-four (1924) and who steadfastly adhered to the Patristic Ecclesiastical Calendar, which had also been established synodically, despite his advanced age, he vigorously struggled for the Orthodox Confession and against the Innovation for a full twenty years. He was especially persecuted, being exiled twice, in the years one thousand nine hundred and thirty-five (1935) and one thousand nine hundred and fifty-one (1951).

This unwavering champion of Genuine Orthodoxy, who emerged as a most radiant ecclesiastical and national figure, an eloquent orator and prolific writer, a reprover of those who unlawfully innovated and a destroyer of the heresies and delusions of the West, among which was also the New Calendar, fell asleep while struggling upon the adamantine bulwarks of our Holy Faith in the year one thousand nine hundred and fifty-five, in the month of September, on the seventh day (September 7, 1955), bearing multiple crowns of divine glory, leaving behind the memory of a Venerable and Martyr of the Orthodox Tradition.

His Synaxis is celebrated annually at the holy and venerable women's Monastery dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos, above Acharnai in the Prefecture of Attica, at the southern foothills of Mount Parnes, where his revered tomb is also located, along with his grace-filled and fragrant holy relics.

By his holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Greek source: Ἱερὰ Ἀκολουθία τοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ὁμολογητοῦ Ἱεράρχου Χρυσοστόμου τοῦ Νέου (1870-1955), Holy Synod of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece, 2016, pp. 14-15.

https://www.imoph.org/pdfs/2016/06/30/20160630aAkolAgChrysNeou.pdf