With great splendor and all solemnity, in the presence of the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece Hieronymou, a multitude of other high priests, a delegation from Mount Athos, representatives of military authorities, politicians and a multitude of believers, the enthronement of the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Philotheos took place in the holy cathedral of Our Lady of God Sophia.

In his great enthronement speech, the new metropolitan of Thessaloniki Philotheos chose to start with verses from the poem by Giorgos Seferis “An old man on the riverbank».

“I want nothing more than to speak simply, to be granted this grace. Because we loaded the song with so much music that it slowly sinks in and we embellished our art so much that its face was eaten by the malamata and it’s time to say our few words“, he specifically said.

Addressing the young men and women who are thirsty for life, the new Metropolitan of Thessaloniki spoke to them with lyrics from the song Thirst by Nikos Portokaloglos, saying characteristically:It’s not the friends, the nights out, cigarettes, drinks, the music, the music around the same fire. Your old dreams, journeys under new sails. It’s nothing at all and it’s all that. It is this thirst for life that keeps us alive. Friends, young men and women, despite the ravages of the times, despite the temptations of history, the thirst and the hope for a clear sky, for that clear air of true life, that this someone who beckons you from the port far away, it is none other than Christ who calls us all to the harbor of the church, to overcome frozen loneliness, through the warmth of love and true communion».

“I want to meet you. In our acquaintance this special place is held by the elders and deacons of the local church, with whom we must remain united like the strings to the guitar”, he noted. Particularly moved, he said: “At this blessed hour in which I open my heart to you, I want to thank you again for accompanying me in my entry and establishment in the Local Church of Thessaloniki. Pray for me and be sure that I do the same for you».

The Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Hieronymos, as the overseer of the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki, pointed out that his election as the new Metropolitan of Thessaloniki “was a difficult decision, it had criteria not only of age, but deeper and more substantial, mainly theological”, he mentioned and emphasized that in from the cooperation they had with each other, he appreciated “his ethics and ecclesiastical opinion, his theological thinking, education and reflection».

The Metropolitan of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, Varnavas, as deputy overseer, handed the new metropolitan of Thessaloniki, the pastoral staff of responsibility, for his new beginning. The representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was the Metropolitan of Chalkidon Emmanuel, as a spiritual father, he gave him another wish for his new beginning, while the former Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Anthimos, was early in the temple of God’s Wisdom and stood by the side of the new Metropolitan.

The government was represented by Minister of State Makis Voridis, who conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his commitment to close cooperation with the new Metropolitan of Thessaloniki. Mr. Voridis referred to subgenitality and the cooperation that the state and the church should have. “The role of the state and the church are distinct, but without cooperation on a number of issues the state is poorer and the goals impossible to achieve”, he said and wished him “an effective and successful pastoral course in the work he undertakes, which is heavy and difficult”.

“Your Holiness, from today the Region of Central Macedonia and I personally are at your disposal, with true and deep feelings of appreciation. For the good of Thessaloniki, for the good of Macedonia, for our country and all our fellow citizens. Welcome“, noted the regional governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

The mayor of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas, welcomed His Holiness to Thessaloniki and wished him from the bottom of his heart “may the triune God grace you and give you strength to stand worthy of your Saints and great predecessors. Stand worthy of the Thessalonian church. May your work in this historic metropolis be God-loving and your pastorate God-loving, as your name states».

The enthronement ceremony of the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Philotheou was also attended by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras, the Deputy Minister of Macedonia – Thrace, Stathis Konstantinidis, the secretary of the ND Parliamentary Group, Stavros Kalafatis, the president of PASOK-KINAL Nikos Androulakis, the president of the Parliamentary SYRIZA group Sokratis Famellos, party representatives and MPs.

Colleagues of the new metropolitan of Thessaloniki from Chalkida, Thessaloniki and Athens as well as hundreds of faithful who attended the enthronement ceremony, many of those who have known him since his childhood and his later career, exclaimed “Axios”.

The solemn events will be completed on Sunday at 7 am, with the liturgy and the high priestly liturgy at the pilgrimage church of Agios Demetrius, the Patron Saint of Thessaloniki. After the end of the divine service, the metropolitan will receive the wishes of the clergy and the people, in the holy church of Agios Dimitrios.

It is noted that vehicle traffic has been fully restored in the wider area.