“With the participation and company of the Alternate Minister of National Defence Mr. Dimitris Vitsas, the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, the Chiefs of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Hellenic Navy General Staff and Hellenic Air Force General Staff, men and women of the Armed Forces, we welcome here today, in the Ministry of National Defence, with special respect and emotion, the holy icon of Virgin Mary of Sumela, symbol of Pontian Greeks.
I wish to thank, in particular the Chairman of the Pan-hellenic Federation of Pontian societies Ms. Sachinidis, all Pontian associations and all Greek citizens with whom we welcome the holy Icon today.
Our people’s tradition and faith, as well as the tradition and faith of the Armed Forces has created an unbreakable bond with Virgin Mary, demonstrating the diachronic connection of the two cornerstones, Nation and Orthodox Faith.
The long history of Greek culture and the collective conscience of our people have put the Armed Forces under the protection of Virgin Mary, making her the patron saint and supporter in the combat for
The holy Icon of Virgin Mary of Sumela comes to strengthen our faith, to support us and remind us of the remarkable wonders that took place in the Monastery of Sumela on the roots of Mount Vermio.
She comes to Athens as the mother of every pious believer who will honour and prey before Her.
It is the symbol of Pontian Greeks. It consoles the Pontians who suffered, like martyrs, were chased out of their fatherland and it helps Pontian Greeks to achieve prosperity.
It is a miraculous icon with unique historical background, painted, according to tradition, by Luke the Evangelist.
This sacred heirloom, principally, expressed the common conscience of Greek people for the preservation of the national memory and their will for a world of concord and brotherhood.
Her holy Grace that we are given today is a rare blessing and it overwhelms our lives with the joy and hope of overcoming the difficulties that our people deal with, helping us to reorganize ourselves, to heal our wounds and to build the future that our children are worth of, with pride, hopefulness, confidence and determination.
This is an important day, the participation in this holy prey of MPs of all political parties, apart from the General Secretary of the Ministry, to accompany the political and military leaders of the Armed Forces during the reception of this holy Icon.
I wish to thank in particular the Bishop of Veroia, Naousa and Kampania Panteleimon, the Chairman Mr. Georgios Tanimanidis and the Board of Directors who offered us this supreme symbol of Orthodox Christianity, a religious heirloom of really inestimable historical value, as well as the Panhellenic Association of Pontian Societies because with their work and struggles they keep the memory of 353,000 victims of the Genocide of Pontian Greeks alive.
I would like also to thank our Armenian brothers, also victims of the ruthlessness of the then Turkish state, for their presence.
I wish Virgin Mary of Sumela to give us all and our families health and strength. We prey to Virgin Mary the Champion General to be always the protector of the Hellenic Armed Forces.
I would like to assure that it is in Her that we all hope, whether we fight or we serve in posts of political responsibility. We pray with piety and I would like to say, once more, that the Ministry of National Defence for the first time opens its doors to the Greek people. Our premises and chapel are open to every civilian to be able to pray during this weekend that we pay homage to the Genocide of the Pontian Greeks.”
