The Minister of Health was in Thessaloniki today, Adonis Georgiadeswhere he was awarded for his contribution to EKAV, while he also received as a gift an icon of Agios Damianos who has been designated as the patron saint of EKAV.

In his post on social media, Mr. Georgiadis mentions, among other things: “As the Minister of Development and Investments, I had accepted the request initially from the Minister of Health, Vassilis Kikilia, and then from the Minister of Health, Thanos Pleuris, to approve a program that requested the EKAV, for training its workers in helicopter rescues. I approved the program, as the minister responsible for the National Health Service at the time, and the good Lord brought it this way, that I finally completed it as the Minister of Health just last month. Today the Federation of EKAV Employees invited me to Thessaloniki, to reward me for my contribution to EKAV. At the same time, today the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece was officially announced by His Holiness Philotheo of Thessaloniki, where they appointed Saint Damianos as the Patron Saint of the EKAV. We were also honored with his presence and blessing by the Most Reverend Barnabas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis and as the representative of the Beatitude, the Most Reverend Archimandrite Theologian Alexandrakis. I thank our High Priests for honoring me with their Blessing and their presence, but also for giving me a beautiful icon of Saint Damianos. On an Orthodox Sunday, such a gift acquires a greater value for me.

It was a very moving event with EKAV workers from all over Greece. I thank everyone for their kind words and love.”