On the special Aegean flight A34081, the Holy Icon of the Virgin Mary “Axion Esti” of Mount Athos departed at one in the afternoon, for Athens. The flight, which is an Aegean offer, is expected to arrive at Athens International Airport, El. Venizelos, at 1:50 p.m., where she will be received in a special ceremony and with all honor by the Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, Nikolaos, known as Nikolaos Hatjinikolaus.

The Holy Icon is accompanied by a thirty-member delegation of the Holy Community of Mount Athos. Before the start of the process of transferring the image from the monastic state, a Divine Liturgy was held, while afterwards, the members of the delegation accompanying it, boarded with it, on the ship that transported it from the port of Dafni to Ouranoupoli. From there the image was transported by road to Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki.

The official welcoming ceremony in Athens will take place at 6:00 pm, in the square of the Metropolis of Athens, in the presence of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Mr. Ieronymos, and representatives of the political and state leadership. Afterwards, a Doxology and Holy Prayer will be held at the Cathedral of Athens, where the icon will remain for the faithful to visit until May 15.

Every day, during the stay of the Virgin Mary of “Axion Esti” in the Metropolis of Athens, Holy Masses will be held, while a trisage will also be held in memory of the dead of the train accident in Tempi.