Archimandrite Filippos Hamargias reflects on religious hymnology

Archimandrite Filippos Hamargias, Protosyncellus of the Metropolis of Messinia, provides a theological reflection on the hymn ‘And I have you as a mediatrix’ (Καὶ σὲ μεσίτριαν ἔχω). This hymn is central to the religious traditions observed during the August 15 feast, often referred to in local tradition as the ‘Easter of Summer’.

The hymn, part of the Exaposteilaria sung during the Paraklesis services, is described as a profound expression of the relationship between the believer and the Virgin Mary. Hamargias characterizes the text through four dimensions: trust, confession, repentance, and hope. He notes that the hymn serves as a personal voice for the individual, allowing the believer to express vulnerability and seek intercession before God through the Virgin Mary.