“We love the place that God gave us and the sacrifices of our ancestors and we must do what is necessary for its decency, stability, security, progress, cultural growth, honor, glory and splendor. our homeland”.

This was emphasized, among other things, by the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew, in his opposition to the mayor of Pyrgos, Panagiotis Antonakopoulos, during the ceremony of declaring him an honorary citizen, which took place in the town hall.

As he added, “the most honorable mayor and the other municipal rulers of the Ilian capital wishing to count the Ecumenical Patriarch among the citizens of their city, decided to make him an honorary citizen of Pyrgos”.

“And how can we”, he continued, “pardon this honor, since Pyrgos honors us with the noble historical past of the Latrines, Pyrgos the seven-hilled, just as the Queen is seven-hilled”.

“So how can we,” noted the Ecumenical Patriarch, “not respond to your noble decision, which we are sure is a decision of the heart, not only because the dear mayor is a cardiologist, but because we see this reflected in the eyes of all the honorable members of the municipal council”.

Concluding, the Ecumenical Patriarch said: “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Mr. Mayor, Mr. President, Mr. Vice-Presidents and other honorable and dear members of the municipal council, and we extend to all of you and all the citizens and other residents of Pyrgos the wholehearted patriarchal wish and blessing, may may God protect all of you and the city and all of Ilia”.