The Archbishop donated to S.S.E. a copy of the Gospel that the Bishop of Salona had on him
Honorary Doctorate of the Evelpidon Military School A. was announced this morningarchbishop of Athens and all Greece Mr. Ieronymos.
The Metropolitans of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, Mr. Nikolaos, Glyfada, Ellinikou, Voula, Vouliagmeni & Vari, Mr. Antonios, the Deputy Minister of National Defense Ioannis Kefalogiannis, the Chief of the GES Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, teachers and well-wishers were present. The Archbishop was accompanied by Bishop Tanagras Mr. Apostolos and the Director of the Office of the Archbishop Mr. Ioannis S. Tsouras, while the General Director of E.M.Y.E.E. was also present. Mr. Alexandros Katsiaras.
After the greetings from the Governor of S.S.E. lieutenant general Anastasios Polychrono, the leader G.E.S. and Mr. Kefalogiannis, the Archbishop’s biography was read by Dean Professor George Kaimakamis and the eulogy by Professor George Tranda. Then, the resolution of the Educational Council was read and immediately after that they awarded the Archbishop the Doctorate degree.
The Archbishop expressed his gratitude for the honor conferred on him by the country’s oldest Supreme Military Institution, stressing that it is “a School that always offers us worthy officers, who as senior and senior officers of the army take responsibility for the effective defense of the freedom of the homeland us. It is particularly honorable for my humility to be awarded the title of honorary doctorate, which was decided by the Academic Assembly of the School and approved by the Educational Council, and I sincerely express my thanks to you”.
The Archbishop wanted to offer as a counter-gift the presentation of the history and the offer to our country and to everyone of a historical monument, the Monastery of Saint Luke of Boeotia. It referred to the location of the monastery and its history since its foundation in the mid-10th century. He talked about the architecture, the decoration and the mosaics, which connect the monastery complex with Constantinople.
He spoke about the founders of the Monastery and the monks, while at another point he pointed out that the life of the Monastery from its foundation until today is identified with the history of the Greek Nation. He also referred to the tourists who visited the Monastery, but also by quoting official historical data he highlighted the looting it suffered. He referred to the faces of monks and clergy who took the lead in the struggle for Freedom. The contribution of the Monastery to the fight was great with the support and provision of all material help. The Monastery supported the chiefs and deputy chiefs, their staff and horses. He granted money to the Administration and abundant food to the troops that passed through it or camped on Parnassus and Helikon.
“At the Monastery, on March 12, the decisive meeting took place behind closed doors of the temple, in which Athanasios Diakos, Athanasios Zareifis, emissary of the company, the provosts and the oldest of the monks took part, among whom Parthenios Kousouris, Joseph Theocharis, Ioannikios Angelis, Auxentios, Neophytos, Nathanael, Eugene Nikolaou and the monk Matthew. They voted for the revolution, swore by the Holy Gospel and each one was committed to the accomplishment of the work assigned to him” the Archbishop noted and added “On the night of March 26th to 27th, the monks gathered in the monastery, several residents of the surrounding villages armed and others under Zareifis and they waited with emotion for news from Amfissa”.
He also underlined that for Epirus the monastery of Saint Loukas was the starting point of the revolution, while he made extensive reference with specific data to the material contribution of the monastery.
Concluding his speech, the Archbishop referred to King Otto’s visit to the Saint Loukas Monastery, stressing that the king admired the temple and praised the bravery of the fighters. In fact, they told him about their support for the Greek Revolution and the problems they faced at that time. Specifically, the Bishop of Salonon said characteristically: “All of us, Your Majesty, we all fought as young men for freedom… and when you took off the garment it showed its wounds. But now we are hungry, Your Majesty… Long live our nation. Long live your majesty… and let us mourn …” Othonas was moved and promised that as soon as he returned to Athens he would take care of the Monastery. A long time passed and the old fighting monks under the great plane tree of the Monastery were discussing with blissful simplicity the amounts of wages, the gifts and honors, which they expected to receive from the king, who had spoken so many sweet words to them and so many promises he gave them. Because they never dreamed that kings break their promises, they waited with firm hope for the fulfillment of the king’s words until their death.
At the end of his speech, the Archbishop donated to S.S.E. a copy of the Gospel that the Bishop of Salona had on him.
Source: Skai
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