08/31/2026
Yesterday our humble parish celebrated Saint Phanourios, we had six Phanouriopita to try! Thank you to our hard working bakers!
Agios Fanourios (Saint Phanourios) is a Byzantine martyr and miracle worker venerated in our church, primarily known as the patron saint of lost things. His name derives from the Greek word fanerono, meaning "to reveal," and he is traditionally invoked to help locate missing objects or reveal hidden truths.
The saint's feast day is celebrated annually on August 27th. This date is marked by the tradition of baking Fanouropita, a spiced, eggless vegan cake made with ingredients like walnuts, raisins, and orange juice, which is blessed in church and shared among the community. Believers often pray, "Lord have mercy on the soul of Agios Fanourios' mother," a phrase linked to the saint's intercession for his own mother's forgiveness.
The cult of Agios Fanourios is believed to have originated on the island of Rhodes, where his icon was discovered among ancient ruins around the year 1500, leading to his epithet "The Newly Revealed." From Rhodes, the veneration spread to Crete and then throughout Greece, with significant churches located in Rhodes Town, Crete (Kitharida), and Athens (Piraeus).
