On Thursday 15 August 2024, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias represented the President of the Government in the celebration of the Assumption of Virgin Mary and the memorial service for the 84th anniversary from the attack with a torpedo of “ELLI” cruiser in Tinos.
Mr. Dendias, accompanied by the Chief/HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis and the Chief/HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN, boarded on the Guided Missile Fast Patrol Vessel “MYKONIOS” of the Navy, which sailed in the region where “ELLI” cruiser was sunk. The memorial service for the fallen and the wreath throwing by the Minister of National Defence and Chief/HNDGS followed. The Frigate “AIGAION” honorarily anchors at the spot where the Guided Missile Fast Patrol Vessel “MYKONIOS” sailed.
Next, the Minister attended the mass at Evanghelistria Church, officiated by the Reverend Metropolitan of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea, Milos, Mykonos and other islands Dorotheos B.
Mr. Dendias also attended the memorial service at the cenotaph of “ELLI” cruiser and the litany of the Sacred Icon of Blessed Virgin.
The mass and the memorial service were also attended by the MP Aikaterini Monogiou, Tonia Antoniou representing PASOK-KINAL, the Chief of the Port Police-Hellenic Coast Guard Vice Admiral Port Police Georgios Alexandrakis, the Vice Regional Governor of Kyklades of the South Aegean Region Georgios Leontaritis, the Governor of Tinos Anastasia Deligianni-Asprou, the Mayor of Tinos Panagiotis Krontiras, the Mayor of Athens Harris Doukas, representatives of the other Security Forces, of the Local Self-administration and local agencies, as well as many people.
The Minister of National Defence stated upon conclusion of the litany:
“Orthodoxy honours today the top Celebration of the Theomitor, the Assumption of Virgin Mary.
For us Orthodox is the “Easter of the Summer”. It speaks to the soul of every Greek woman and man.
But the Defender General has another attribute as well. She is the Protector of the Armed Forces of our Country.
The Armed Forces honour her today, and they also honour the dead of the dastard attack with a torpedo of “ELLI” Cruiser in Tinos Port, on 15 August 1940.
But our Armed Forces are not stuck in the memory of the past, in the honour of our dead. They are under reform.
In the context of “Agenda 2030” the Armed Forces, the Air Force, the Navy, the Army, create a new reality.
We are about to have the most powerful Armed Forces ever in our country’s long history.
Already, in a few days, in the mid of September, on 19 September, the second “Belharra” frigate, the most modern ship of its type worldwide, along with our first frigate, will sail.
Every day our Country becomes mightier, stronger to protect its interests in the framework of International Law and International Law of the Sea.
Here, in the middle of the Aegean that we stand is good to remember this.
Happy anniversary and the best to all”.
