On Thursday 20 May 2010 Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Halkida received with much honor her majesty Queen Sophia of Spain who visited the holy shrine of St. John the Russian in Evia for the first time.
The Queen was visiting her sister Princess Irene.
After relating the life of St. John the Russian, the Metropolitan gave a silver icon of St. John to both Queen Sophia and Princess Irene. Afterwards they both venerated the incorrupt relics of the Saint.
The Queen was especially interested in the iconography of the church, and payed close attention to the hagiographer Mr. Sergio Sergiadi who was painting icons, who she requested to observe up close.
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