The political and military leadership of the Ministry of National Defence attended the festivities for the celebration of Saint Nicholas, the Patron Saint of the Hellenic and Commercial Navy, which took place at the Hellenic Naval Academy in Piraeus.
Yesterday the Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos attended the celebration of Saint Nicholas at the Korthi Bay at Andros.
The Minister of National Defence made the following address:
“With religious devotion, national exaltation and pride we attend the celebration in honour of Saint Nicholas. With Christian devotion and profound faith we honour the Saint, who is the patron of the Hellenic and Commercial Navy, the Coastguard, the Greek sailors and fishermen, but also of the islanders, reminding us that the foundations of the Greek nation are in the sea, that Greece and the sea are two interconnected notions.
Thucydides wrote that: “Great is the Might of the Sea”. Our country’s history gloriously verifies the saying of the great historian.
Our country’s geopolitical composition with the thousand islands determined our historic fate as a people throughout the centuries. The huge significance of maritime might for the security and survival of our nation, connected the Greeks with the liquid element and made them the most capable sailors in the world.
Today’s celebration symbolises the consonance of an eminently naval country with the Hellenic Navy, which never lowered its flags and with its powerful presence deters any challenge against what we consider most sacred in our homeland.
The basic component of our country’s maritime might are the warships with their crews and they constitute the vigilant sea fortresses of our homeland. Fortresses which daily honour the memory of the fighters who created a free Greece. The historical figures of Andreas Miaoulis, Konstantinos Kanaris, Pavlos Kountouriotis, Vasilis Laskos, Miltos Iatridis, Eleftherios Handrinos and the rest of the heroes are forever present by the side of every warship.
Our Commercial Navy also celebrates today, a permanent ambassador of our country and a link of our homeland with the Greek expatriates. Our commercial ships carry throughout the world the message of eternal Greece, the message of self-confidence and liberty. The Greek seafaring establishing wealth, occupation and progress is a pioneer in our economic development and greatly contributes to our national prosperity.
Our coastguard celebrates too. I want to publicly praise the men and women of the coastguard for one more great success, today on the celebration of Saint Nicholas. The coastguard located a huge amount of drugs, daily proving that they are ready to face any threat.
Our country is located at a place of huge geopolitical and geostrategic importance. From that point of view and due to the instability in the wider region of the Middle East it is necessary to preserve a powerful Hellenic Navy.
Recently in particular, the successful countering of rising dangers and challenges calls for unity, morale, preparation and readiness.
The message and the answer to those who dare to call into question the international treaties and international law is the defence of our national sovereignty and the respect of international law and international treaties which are nonnegotiable.
The Hellenic Navy was always present throughout its history, it fought for values and honoured the traditions of the nation. Today it remains on the battlements of the sea, a vigilant guardian of the honour and dignity of our homeland. It has established throughout the Greek territory, an organised grid for prevention and deterrence and I am certain that our Hellenic Navy, if need be, will immediately and successfully face any challenge to our national interests.
However, we do not forget that the main factor and one of the most essential force multipliers are you the cadres of the Hellenic Navy. You who have shouldered the obligation of defending our sea borders. Your contribution determines our national independence and freedom.
So today I would like, on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Government and the whole nation to express our gratitude to you all. You deserve public praise and respect, because you preserve the great and glorious tradition of the Hellenic Navy. The recent loss of one of the last survivors of the legendary destroyer “ADRIAS”, Dimitrios Gavalas, reminded us that the tradition of the Hellenic Navy leaves an unchanging mark in time.
However, in today’s celebration I ask that we mention the brave cadres of Imia, Kinaros and all those who guarded day and night the Thermopylae of the sea and are no longer with us. This reference is the minimum tribute and recognition of their sacrifice.
Because we owe the fact that we are still standing and resolute on the fact that the cadres of the Hellenic Navy and all of the Armed Forces of our country hold high the flag of our country’s freedom and might, sacrificing even their lives.
I want to assure you that the times when our flags were blown away by the wind have passed. If there is even one living person on the Greek land or a Greek rock, the flags will fly high and will be replaced by new ones only when they are tattered by time.
Knowing that you stand at a high level of readiness and that you excellently fulfill you important mission, I invite you to continue drawing strength and inspiration from our glorious maritime tradition and from all those who were sacrificed throughout the centuries for the ideals of Hellenism and our faith.
The coming year will find Greece entering a process of utilising its submarine wealth. This means that the responsibility of the Hellenic Navy will increase and expand. So everyone needs to contribute to the enhancement of assets and personnel.
I wish that Saint Nicholas will give you health, familial happiness and to those who are sailing right now, I wish that he will give strength and protection.
Hail to the Nation.
Hail to the Hellenic Navy”.
