The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, the Alternate Minister of National Defence Dimitris Vitsas, the Chief of HNDGS Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis HN and the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Georgios Giakoumakis HN attended the Blessing of Waters which took place on the Frigate KOUNTOURIOTIS, sailing off the coast of Hydra Island, in the context of offshore guard duty.  

Afterwards, at the tabernacle of Saint Nikolaos on Dokos islet, a memorial service was performed for the deceased inhabitants as well as the blessing of the Holy Bread, also attended by the islet’s only inhabitant.

The Minister of National Defence, after the Blessing of Waters, made the following statement:

“Along with the Alternate Minister of National Defence Mr Dimitris Vitsas, the Chief of HNDGS and the Chief of HNGS, we are here today, on the Frigate KOUNTOURIOTIS, with the Captain, the First Mate, the Officers, NCOs and Seamen of the Hellenic Navy.

We performed all together the Blessing of Waters, with the blessings of the reverend priest of the Hellenic Navy, so as to send the message that, even during peacetime, the Hellenic Navy, as well as all the Greek Armed Forces, is at a constant battle; a battle that sometimes cannot be realised by all of us who enjoy during peacetime the security granted by the Armed Forces.

Therefore, on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Political and Military Leadership, I would like to thank the personnel of the Armed Forces who on land, sea and in the air, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, give their soul so that we are safe. I wish to say ‘Thank you’.

I wish that today, on the Day of the Epiphany, the Enlightenment will guide all those who might consider at some time conspiring against our country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity that are completely protected by the Greek Armed Forces.

On behalf of the Greek people, we thank them and we apologise for all that they have experienced, also being members of the Greek society, due to the great financial crisis. I believe that with this message for the day, which gives hope, we enter a new era, new days, when the smile will return, with the hope that we shall reconstruct our country to what it deserves.

We are before an island that was inhabited by 60 families. Finally, one inhabitant was left, who passed away three years ago. He was replaced by his mother. Therefore, besides the message I extended to the Armed Forces, I would like to send a message to all those who “guard Thermopylae”, protecting all our islets. Their presence on borderline islands and other islands which are not on the borderline, give them the possibility to have a financial life, since they have a continental shelf.

Those people, that we only remember some times in the summer, should be remembered all year long. I would like to say a warm ‘thank you’ to all those who protect our country, not as members of the Armed Forces, but as inhabitants of those islets.

Many happy returns to you and to your families”.