The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, representing the government attended the reception of the Holy Light at Athens International Airport.

The Minister of National Defence stated the following:

“The Greek people, the Armed Forces, the Church, we all welcome once more the Holy Light, which in a few hours, upon our Lord’s Resurrection, will light in every church of the country. It will light in every Orthodox Church of the Greek nation, in the occupied territory of Cyprus, in St. Andrew’s Church.

There are also churches where the holy light will not be lit. It will always however be lighting in the heart of the Greek nation; of the Greek nation which looks forward to the hopes of the Holy Light that brings us all the message of the Holy Ghost which is the only hope at the difficult times our country is going through.

I wish, this year, at this difficult period for Greece, the Holy Light to bring also the redemption of our country.

The Armed Forces receive it with honour equal to a head of state because we have Virgin Mary, the Champion General, as a patron saint; our patron saints are also the Archangels Michael and Gabriel of the Air Force, Saint George of the Army, Saint Barbara of the Artillery and Saint Nicholas of the Navy, with respect and honour.”