The Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos visited the Holy Monastery of Panormitis at Simi, where he met with the Bishop of Simi Mr. Chrysostomos, in context of his visit to military units of the Dodecanese, to guard posts and to borderline islands HQs.

Mr. Panagiotopoulos was accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Michail Kostarakos, the Commander of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands Lieutenant General Vassilios Tellidis and the Commander of the 95 Higher National Guard Battalions Command Major General Nikolaos Devetzis.

After the end of their visit, Mr. Panagiotopoulos made the following statement:

“Our tradition says that the Army of Greece is protected by God. Here, at the borderline island of Simi, after inspecting the guard, we came to Panormitis, so as to collect blessings and pay our respects. The Armed Forces have the closest of relations with the Orthodox Christian faith and this can be affirmed with a visit here.

The people in the Armed Forces deserve congratulations: Commanders, Officers, NCOs and soldiers; our children who serve their national service and are here, on our borderline islands, and particularly Simi. They guard our borders and do their best to offer to the Country”.