MEMORIAL SERVICE OF FATHER GEORGIOS METALLINOS IN CORFU

In his address, the Bishop of Corfu Mr. Nektarios emphasized that Father George Metallinos was a person of a similar scope with the well-known scholars of the Eugenios Voulgaris and Nikiforos Theotokis, also of Corfu descent. He was distinguished for his faith, love for letters and his patriotism. The Church is bound for the resurrection of all people, and that is why the baptism of Fr. George is a cause of prayer and a memory of love. Thus the collector, Mr. Nektarios pointed out, shows the unity and love in the Church, but also the certainty that the publisher lives the expectation of the resurrection and with us all.The Preaching was made by his Eminence the Bishop of Kastoria, Mr. Seraphim, who first referred to the apostolic reading from II to Timothy by the Apostle Paul, and to the apostle’s exhortation that the bishop and eldest bishop be a type of faithful teacher , “Salt of the earth,” has fellowship with Christ. So it becomes a model for the people. The imitator of Christ is the man whose every word is the word of Christ, who builds the souls of men. He is a guy in cross-commerce, both in the temple and in people’s everyday lives. He is a type of believers in love. Christ showed us love by going down to Hades. So the shepherd is sacrificed for his flock. The shepherd is a spiritual man, living the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is a type of faith, not only in the doctrines, but also in the manifestation of Christ to men. Type of apostasy, agitator to heal the flesh in spirit. Such types have been the apostles, saints, hierarchs, such as Saint Spyridon, and testify that the kingdom of the heavens within us is esteemed, that we will be glorified together with Christ.

The type of the faithful was also the blessed Father George Metallinos. He was not the only type of believers in the temple or theological school. He revealed the experience of God, as he himself lived it, from a young age still close to Saint Spyridon, but also later in life. To the blessed, theology was a worship of God, not merely knowledge. The Church is a cure for evil and rebirth of man. The Church owes him his apologetic, confessional, orthodox orthodoxy.

Mr Seraphim reported an incident that the late Archbishop Seraphim had asked two days before his apology for an incident that had saddened George and they had mutually expressed their love and humility.

Fr. George was a voice of consolation, love of faith, of theology, of tradition, of Rome and now he is bound for us all in the heavenly altar!

His Emienence Bishop of Thessaliotida and Fenariofarsala Mr. Timotheos also addressed the crowd. Mr. Timotheos emphasized that Father George Matallinos was the lion of Orthodoxy. His name lives on, his wisdom is told by the people, and his praise is proclaimed by the Church. His confession, the highlight of the work of the Fathers of the Church, which the believer recorded in 600 studies. Of particular importance, however, was his functional ministry. From the Temple of the Dental School, Saint Antipas, he gave to the faithful who flocked to the reflections of Greek Orthodoxy, the faith as an experience, the reason for witnessing the truth. His example, Mr. Timotheos pointed out, is valuable to all of us. We need to imitate him. The Church proclaims praise and we are taught by his wisdom and by the world and by God.

Father Charalambos Marketos, spiritual son of the blessed Pope George, also made a speech on behalf of the Bishop of Kefallinia, Mr. Demetrios. After Corfu, the beloved loved Kefallinia  and devoted himself to the island, published his doctoral dissertation on the archives of the Iakovata brothers and refined the history of modern Greece and the culture and Ionian Islands.

After the Divine Liturgy and the memorial service, the priests visited the Holy Monastery of Platytera where they buried a tomb in the grave of the blessed Father George Metallinos.