The event organized this year by the ELPIDA Association of Friend of Children with cancer, in collaboration with the PANATHINAIKI Panhellenic Women’s Association, to mark Mother’s Day, on Wednesday, 8 May 2019, at the Kostis Palamas building of the University of Athens, was dedicated to the Strength of Motherhood, which can overcome and difficulty or obstacle.
The President of ELPIDA, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, and the President of PANATHINAIKI, Mrs. Maria Gianniris, honoured five unique heroic mothers who set an example that shows that a mother’s love is everywhere, giving strength, inspiration and courage: The Abbess of the Lyreio Foundation, Mother Maria, who with motherly care has raised hundreds of children; Mrs. Chrysoula Korovesi, a resident of Mandra, who rescued her daughter and grandchild from the disastrous flood in Mandra; Mrs. Mirella Kympouropoulou, mother of Stelios Kympouropoulos; Mrs. Sofia Petrounia, mother of Olympic gold-medalist Lefteris Petrounias; and Presbytera Evangelia Prentou, mother of eight.
“These moments today are special for all of us, thanks to these outstanding Greek women who tamed the darkness and transformed it into light to overcome difficulties and create opportunities, to seek hope where everything seemed futile, to be tested without compromising, responding in their own way. To remain MOTHERS at any cost! And today their love is so strong that it embraces the whole world,” Mrs. Vardinoyannis said, welcoming these special mothers and their guests to the event.
Mrs. Vardinoyannis made special reference to each of the award recipients, also talking about the mother of 8-year-old Alexia who was hit by a bullet during Easter and is now fighting for her life. “I would like to make special mention of one more mother who isn’t here with us today, but who is in my thoughts and heart. The mother of 8-year-old Alexia, whom I visited at Paidon Hospital yesterday. The little girl who was hit by a stray bullet while playing in her yard. Her story has moved all of us, and I would like us to pray together for this little girl to return strong and healthy to her home.”
The President of PANATHINAIKIS, Mrs. Maria Gianniris, spoke of the importance of motherhood, mentioning her own mother, who taught her that a mother’s love for her children is boundless.
The five award recipients then spoke from the heart about their experience of motherhood, moving and inspiring the audience.
The Abbess of the Lyreio Foundation, Mother Maria, having expressed her thanks for the great honour, gave a moving account of the destruction of the Lyreio Foundation in the deadly wildfire in Mati last summer, and of how they managed to save all of the children in their care. “Motherhood has a characteristic invincible strength, limitless love that is expressed in total dedication and constant self-sacrifice,” Mother Maria said, closing her speech.
The next speaker was Mrs. Chrysoula Korovesi, resident of Mandra, who received the award from Mrs. Vardinoyannis with tears in her eyes: “I had prepared a speech and everything was ready. But when I met Mrs. Vardinoyannis before the event, she said something to me and it changed everything. She said, “We went through it together.” And that’s exactly how it is. We experienced what happened in Mandra together, because she was the first person there, from the very outset, offering her heart. Thank you for this great honour, but I think I did what any mother would do in my position. And even today there are moments when I wonder where I found the strength to get my daughter and grandchild out of a flooded house. But, in the end, a mother always finds the strength.
Mirella Kympouropoulou spoke about her and her son Stelios’ spiritual strength. “Stelios often says I am an ‘owl’ mother. And I am, because I am really proud of my child’s strength. My child cannot even move his arms or legs. He only moves his mouth and eyes. And I really cannot forget how he strived to finish medical school. His father and I sat next to him for countless hours to turn pages so he could study for his exams. And now he is a great psychiatrist whose patients adore him.”
Mrs. Sofia Petrounia spoke of her own struggle at the side of her Olympic gold-medalist son, Lefteris Petrounias: “Lefteris fought hard to attain his goals from a very young age. I remember it like it was today: he converted the back seat of our car into a bed so he could rest between school and his very demanding training. Then we went home and he studied, with me at his side to help him, so he could meet all of his commitments. I’m very proud of my child. I’m very proud because, above all, he is a very good person, not just because his is an Olympic gold-medalist.”
There was a very touching moment when Lefteris himself talked about his mother, saying that a mother’s support is everything for an athlete.
With her eight children and her husband at her side, Presbytera Evangelia Prentou described life in a home where there are eight children, saying what being a mother means to her: “A mother is not something biological – it means being able to open a huge embrace. It is worry, concern, love for all God’s children.”
The event was moderated by the journalist Popi Tsapanidou.
Immediately afterwards, all of the mothers who had received awards – each with such a different story – joined in a huge embrace, showing that motherly love can be expressed in many different ways and can overcome any difficulty.
The event was closed by Mrs. Vardinoyannis, in a touching reference to her own mother: “I thank my mother for the principles and values she taught me. She always set an example for me – that we should help our fellow human beings. I owe the her the fact that I am here today,” Mrs. Vardinoyannis said.
