Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain: we need to continue the work of the heroes and Saints of Greece
The inaugural event for the foundation of the International Association of Friends of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain took place in a ceremonious and moving atmosphere in the impressive Hesperides Hall of the Numismatic Museum.
Just three months after the enthronement of the new Archbishop Nikitas in the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom in London, the International Association of Friends launched its initiatives to support the spiritual and charity work of the Greek Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom.
In blessing this exceptional ceremony, Archbishop Nikitas, evidently moved, referred in detail to the origin of his family, which emigrated from the island of Kalymnos to America, where he was born.
“We may be expatriates, but our hearts beat at a Greek pace and Greek blood runs through our veins, his Eminence said, adding that “I will be waiting at the Archdiocese and the Church of the Holy Wisdom to meet you all when you come to London, and everyone – quite a large number now – who during the past decade of the great crisis in Greece, immigrated to study, work and eventually stay in the United Kingdom.
I need at least 30 priests across the British Isles, Scotland and Ireland, to be able to meet the need of the thousands of orthodox Greeks who live there and need the shelter of our Church.
I am certain, he concluded, that Greeks everywhere, who always contribute, will respond to this invitation of the international association of friends of our archdiocese, to spread the wish to perform social work and to offer joy and relief to our fellow citizens in need.
I thank you all for coming here tonight to honour the work of the church and the Ecumenical throne.
I have always said that Greece is the birthplace of heroes and Saints, and
my hope is that we will carry on the work of our church’s heroes and saints”.
The Founding President of the International Association of Friends of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, Mr Giorgos Papagiannopoulos, addressed His Eminence Nikitas in his speech , underlining that: “you are responsible for the shepherding of at least 100 communities in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Greek and Sunday schools, a congregation of roughly half a million souls, as their spiritual Father and Leader.
We stand by you with common goals and actions, in order to develop the Hellenism and diaspora of the United Kingdom, the Hellenism of letters and arts, to pass Greek education and our religious beliefs on to our children and grandchildren.
For all of us living in London, or also in London, this city is more Greek than it has ever been.
I would say in fact that we, as well as the state, need to think of London as the third largest Greek city in terms of population.
We, as the International Association of Friends of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, are embarking on an effort to collaborate, with initiatives, organised bodies and eminent figures with a vast humanitarian work history, such as Mrs Marianna Vardinoyannis, who is our first honorary member.
In her speech of acceptance of the Archdiocese’s invitation, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marianna V. Vardinoyannis noted that “I feel that this is a truly blessed moment, when humanitarianism and Orthodoxy have once again unified Greeks everywhere, creating a new bridge of charity and love, this time between Greece and the United Kingdom!
I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira & Great Britain for his invitation to participate in this godly work.
With humility and deep respect, I accepted this proposal and I stand here before you today full of emotion, joy and hope.
The foundation of the International Association of Friends of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain is a godly initiative of solidarity and love for our fellow humans.
The General Secretary for Diaspora Greeks, Mr Ioannis Chrysoulakis, underlined: “I congratulate the people who took the initiative for this important action, and I place the powers of the diaspora coordinated by the General Secretariat for Diaspora Greeks at the disposal of everyone committed to the success of this effort.
For us it signals the continuation of the fruitful collaboration of the Diaspora with the Church”.
Wherever they form a community, Greeks start by building a Greek Orthodox church, followed by a Greek school, a Greek community, a Greek cultural center and a Greek newspaper.
The event was also attended by: the Minister of Social Affairs, Mr P. Mitarakis, the Mayor of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni, Mr G. Konstantelos, the ambassador of the United Kingdom, Mrs Kate Smith, father Theofilos, representative of the Archdiocese of Athens, the Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with his family, David & Angie Andrews, Ms Eirini Daifa, stock-broker Mr Zacharias Portalakis, Mr Stavros Konstantas, CEO of Ethniki Asfalistiki, entrepreneurs Ms Elia Portalaki & Ms Marina Giavroglou, Ms Maria Papagiannopoulou doing business in London, attorney Mr Sakis Kehagioglou, legal consultant of the Archdiocese, entrepreneur Mr Fotis Fotopoulos with his wife, Lebanese entrepreneur Georges Samaha, the Greek ex-pat from Chicago Mr George Stathopoulos, Mr Filippos Kassos, KMPG partner, attorney Mr Giorgos Iliopoulos with his wife Libby, Mrs Eleni Samaraki, Kostas and Mary Koufou, a husband and wife team of entrepreneurs from Rhodes, and many others.
The event was presented by journalist Eirini Nikolopoulou.
The guests were welcomed and given a tour by the Director of the Numismatic Museum, Mr Giorgos Kakavas, who noted that: “We are in the loveliest neoclassical building of Athens, which used to be the home of Heinrich Schliemann and was designed by the famous Ernst Ziller.”
Mr Kakavas expressed his wishes for the success of the noble activities of the Association, in the framework of this godly Spiritual and Charitable work of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.