In an emotional climate and with a solemn ceremony at the presence of His Excellency, the President of Republic, Mr. Konstantinos Tasoulas, took place the unveiling of the statute of the unforgettable, Mariana V. Vardinoyannis, the founder of the Oncologic Hospital of Children “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – ELPIDA” at the courtyard of the Oncologic Hospital on Wednesday, June 4th 2025.
The unveiling of Statute conducted from the President of the Republic and the President of the Association “ELPIDA – Association of Friends of Children with cancer”, Mrs. Christianna V. Vardinoyannis, have sent shivers of emotion as the stature reflects the kind soul of Marianna.
There were present at the event, His Beatitude the Archiebishop of Athens and all Greece, Mr. Ieronymos, the Ministry of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, the President of the Group “MOTOR OIL”, Mr. Ioanis V. Vardinoyannis with members of Vardinogiannis family, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Marios Themistokleous, the Board of Directors of “ELPIDA” Association, members of the Board of Directors of the Oncologic Hospital of Children, members of “ELPIDA”, Doctors and nurses.
This emblematic statute done by the internationally known sculptor, Mr. Anastasios Kratidis, was placed at the center of Oncologic Hospital Court yards as a symbol of gratitude to the founder of the Hospital, the unforgettable, Mriana V. Vardinoyannis, to give hope to the children and their parents for their difficult battle against the children’s cancer.
The President of the Republic has emphasized at his greeting that, Mariana V. Vardinoyannis is included to our country’s benefactors and the State honors her memory and offer with gratitude and respect: “The unforgettable, Marianna V. Vardinoyannis was a warm and generous human being, a true ambassador of the good, a precious example of humanism, altruism, strength, kindness and essential simplicity. The statute that is today unveiled at the court yard of an Association that bears her indelible mark is an honor that we owe to her, a gesture of recognition. Recognition of her mental and material generosity and her systematic work inspired from a sharpened sense of duty and moral obligation. Recognition of a life term’s work which does not only inspires the persons to contribute to the common good, does not simply motivate in occasional actions of solidarity but it contributes to culture of social offer as a directional model for the collective progress. By honoring the work and vision of Marianna Vardinoyannis, we strengthen this model which operates as a catalyst, is incorporated into institutional structures, passes into the society and makes it better. Mrs. Vardinoyannis representing it uniquely is included among the benefactors of our country. The State is honoring her memory and offer with gratitude and respect”.
The President of “ELPIDA” Mrs. Chritianna V. Vardinoyannis, the daughter of unforgettable Mariana, deeply moved has spoken from the depths of her heart for her mother’s personality and work: “Mariana V. Vardinoyannis was the sould of this hospital and she was always saying that instead of us, our actions must speak, the encouragement to the fellow human being which has our need and our decisiveness to fight for a better world, because this is finally the mark we leave at our passing by. This is the way that she has walked during her life having always the Greek people at her side and turned her vision into reality. She has done the miracle that no one expected it: to be saved now in our country 3 to 4 children with cancer. Where dark was dominated, she brought light, love and hope. Where the fear dominated, she brought courage. She never gave up and she never stopped to fight for what she believed as fair and right. The statute that we unveil today will always remind this great woman, our protector and benefactor of our hospital. Mariana was the mother of every child of this hospital and this statute shall always stands here to offer faith and strength to the children and parents as my mother has always done. An internal symbol of hope”.
The President of the Oncologic Hospital Mr. Emmanouil Papasavvas, has in details referred to the health structures that, Mariana V. Vardinoyannis, has offered to the Greek society: “For over 30 years she dedicated herself at the battle against the children’s cancer. A restless and perceptive spirit, she proceeded with important initiatives such as the establishment of the first and only until today Unit of borrow narrow transplant, the construction of the Oncologic Hospital of Children in our country, ORAMA Elpidas, the Center of Cellular and Genetic Therapy for children and teen agers. Her target was always to acquire the supplies enabling us to apply anything that it is innovative and new in order any child in our country to have the same opportunities , the same access in advanced therapies being the same with those conducted in major oncologic centers of abroad. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is today here to see that, her vision for an independent Oncologic Hospital for children is becoming true”.
An exceptional emotional moment was, when two of the healed children, Mikhail and Iro, representing all “ELPIDA” children, the real fighters of life and wishing to pay their tribute and express their gratitude, have left at Marianna’s statute multi color flowers expressing in this way their own “Thanks”.
