Feast of Saint Barbarus Celebrated in Corfu, Emphasizing Repentance and God’s Love
Corfu, May 16 – On Friday, May 15, 2026, the Holy Church of Potamos in Corfu was the center of celebration for the feast of our Venerable Father Barbarus of Pentapolis. His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxoi, and the Diapontian Islands, officiated and delivered a poignant sermon, focusing on the life of Saint Barbarus as a profound example of repentance and God’s boundless love for humanity.
The Metropolitan was joined by Protopresbyter Georgios Petrakis, the parish priest, as well as the Very Reverend Archimandrite Andreas Gkiokas, Protopresbyter Gregorios Gkisdakis, and Deacon Spyridon Pigis. The church was filled with faithful, notably a large number of children from local schools, who participated devoutly in the Divine Liturgy and received Holy Communion.
The Transformative Power of Repentance
In his address to the congregation, and particularly to the children, Metropolitan Nektarios delved into the life of Saint Barbarus. He underscored that when a person distances themselves from God, they become ‘barbaric,’ losing the inner peace and moral compass that God’s presence provides. He highlighted that contemporary society often experiences this estrangement from God, manifesting in violence, crime, and disorder, even among young people and children. Referencing recent incidents of violence, he stressed that the absence of God from one’s life leads to the loss of love, respect, and true communion among people.
The Metropolitan recounted the early life of Saint Barbarus, who, hailing from Africa, lived as a pirate and a harsh man, far from God. However, he emphasized, there came a moment when God’s grace touched his heart, calling him to a change of life. “We may all stumble in our life’s journey,” he noted, “but there is a moment when God’s love comes and calls us.”
A Call to Embrace God’s Grace
Addressing the children specifically, Metropolitan Nektarios stressed the importance of knowing the true God and allowing His grace to dwell within them. He cited Saint John Chrysostom, stating that the Church transforms people, as “someone enters as a wild beast and emerges as a gentle lamb.” Thus, he explained, God’s grace transformed Saint Barbarus from a criminal into a Saint and friend of God. The Saint abandoned his old life, dedicating himself to asceticism, prayer, and fasting, cultivating repentance and divine love for Christ.
His Eminence particularly dwelled on the fact that all people, young and old, need repentance and a change of lifestyle. He emphasized that true love for God transforms one’s entire being and leads to holiness. He also spoke of the end of Saint Barbarus, when hunters mistook him for a wild animal and fatally wounded him, an event the Saint accepted with humility, thanking God and acknowledging the errors of his past life.
The Miracle of Saint Barbarus in Potamos
Metropolitan Nektarios also made special mention of the miracle of Saint Barbarus in the area of Potamos. During the transfer of his Holy Relics to the West, a stop was made in Corfu, and a sick child was miraculously healed after venerating the Saint’s relics. This event deeply etched itself into the memory of the local inhabitants, who continue to honor the Saint with gratitude to this day. He further explained that miracles are a manifestation of God’s presence in human life, noting that often people do not realize that even daily life itself is a miracle and a gift from God.
Concluding his sermon, His Eminence expressed his joy at being able to officiate in Potamos, urging everyone to pray for children and young people, who are growing up in an era of spiritual confusion and darkness. He prayed that Saint Barbarus intercede for all, so that they may remain close to God and in the light of Christ’s Resurrection.
