Thessaloniki honors with splendor its patron Saint Dimitrios and the anniversary of the liberation of the city, in the presence of thousands of believers, the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou and representatives of the political and military authorities.
The doxology is presided over by the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Philotheos, while the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos, was unable to attend due to other commitments.
Sakellaropoulou: We honor those who gave their lives
“Thessaloniki celebrates today its patron saint, Agios Dimitrios, and with it the anniversary of its liberation from the Ottoman yoke. On this day, all Greeks, with faith in the timeless values of our long history, honor those who gave their lives for the integration of Macedonia into the national body. Their memory is a source of inspiration and pride. Happy birthday!” said Mrs. Sakellaropoulou after the eulogy.
Upon her arrival at the church of Agios Dimitrios, she was welcomed by the head of the Greek Orthodox Church General Dimitrios Houpis, the Deputy Minister of Interior (Macedonia – Thrace) Kostas Giulekas, the secretary general of the Parliamentary Group of the National Democratic Party. Stavros Kalafatis as the representative of the president of the Parliament, the regional governor of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis, the president of KEDE, the mayor of Ampelokipi Menemeni Lazaros Kyrizoglou and Metropolitan Philotheos, while a military salute paid tribute.
The eulogy was attended by the Minister of Defense of Cyprus Vassilis Palmas, the Deputy Ministers of Infrastructure Nikos Tachiaos, Health Dimitris Vartzopoulos, Tourism Elena Rapti, the president of PASOK-Movement for Change Nikos Androulakis, the president of “Niki” Dimitris Natsios, the president of “Spartiats” Vassilis Stigas, the candidate presidents of SYRIZA-PS Sokratis Famouslos, Nikos Farandouris, the former president Stefanos Kasselakis, the head of the “Voice of Reason” MEP Afroditis Latinopoulos, MPs, the Coordinator of the Prime Minister’s Office in Macedonia Yiannis Papageorgiou et al.
Androulakis: We have a duty to reflect on how to make our country stronger
“We have a duty to reflect on how to make our country stronger against those who seek our national interests”, emphasized the president of the PASOK-Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakisafter the doxology in the church of Agios Dimitrios.
His statement
“Today we celebrate the Patron Saint of the city, Saint Demetrius, and I want to wish a happy birthday to all the people of Thessalonica and to all those celebrating.
Today, however, we also celebrate the day of the liberation of the city from the Turkish yoke and we have a duty to reflect, as in every historical milestone, how we will make our country stronger against those who seek our national interests.
How do we make our country fairer by reducing inequalities and laying the foundations for our collective prosperity.
And how we will make our country more resilient in the face of challenges and international upheavals.
We have a duty to protect our people from all the hard consequences.”
Giulekas: Thessaloniki and our homeland are celebrating
“Thessaloniki is celebrating today, our homeland is also celebrating. With the struggles of 1912-13, Greece grew and with the integration of Thrace it took its current form”, said the Deputy Minister of Interior (Macedonia and Thrace) Kostas Giulekasafter the official eulogy at the church of Agios Dimitrios.
“Those who fought, with their sacrifices and blood, bequeathed to us the most precious thing there is, our freedom. We too must see ourselves worthy of this freedom to preserve it. That is why our absolute priority is to constantly increase the power of the homeland, through treaties, alliances, upgrading the country’s Armed Forces, precisely to be able to guarantee our national sovereignty, our sovereign rights peace and security of the Greek people. Happy birthday,” added Mr. Giulekas.
Kasselakis: Let’s make this country a little better
“We are proud of our homeland, we are proud of Thessaloniki, of Macedonia, and it is up to us to make this country a little better every day, each and every one of us”, emphasized the former president of SYRIZA, Stefanos Kasselakiswho wished for Thessaloniki to become the capital of the Balkans and for projects that have been delayed for decades to proceed, so that young people can stay in the city.
Stefanos Kasselakis
The MEP and head of the “Voice of Reason”, Aphrodite Latinopouloustated: “Today we celebrate the liberation of Thessaloniki, but also our protector, patron Saint Demetrius the Myroblytis. I wish a happy birthday to those celebrating, a happy birthday to all Greeks.”
Aphrodite Latinopoulou
The member of parliament and presidential candidate of SYRIZA-PS, Socrates Famous stated: “We celebrate and honor the patron Saint Demetrius, but also the liberation of our city in the Balkan Wars. On Monday we will also commemorate the anniversary of “NO” and the heroic struggle in the Greek-Italian war, but also the liberation of Thessaloniki from the occupation of the Nazi regime. The lessons and responsibilities of these days are valuable for all Greek men and women. First of all for freedom, for peace, for life, but also for democracy. And today, when, unfortunately, the war is so close to show its teeth and threatens life and peace in the region, we have a responsibility to defend these values”.
Socrates Famous
The president of the Spartans Vasilis Stigas he emphasized: “In these difficult days that our nation is going through, we should activate the initiatives of our ancestors. One of them is the power of union. Only if we are united, united and of one mind can we face internal and external enemies”.
Vasilis Stigas
The governor of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzizikostas stated: “Our thoughts go to the struggles of our ancestors, whom we remember and honor. However, it also goes to the future, which all these years, as the Region of Central Macedonia, we have been building on solid foundations to continuously improve the daily life of all citizens. But also for Central Macedonia and Thessaloniki to be at the forefront of Greece and Europe, and this is what we will continue to do in the years to come.”
“The brilliant celebration of liberation fills us with confidence and at the same time defines the next day, sending the message that with unity we can face anything and any threat. Thessaloniki is here, claiming the next day with dynamism and its new identity”, said the mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis.
“Thessaloniki deserves a bright future commensurate with its glorious past. It deserves to be the focus of the Balkans and Europe”, noted the MEP and SYRIZA-PS presidential candidate Nikos Farandouris.
The MEP of the Greek Solution Manolis Fragoswho represented the party stated: “These holidays should be thought of by all those willing, who today are ready with one signature to hand over all that the Greeks won with their blood. and let all those willing know that if they dare to do something like this they will find against them not only us but the entire Greek people”.
The president of Nike Dimitris Natsios he pointed out: “Big day today for Thessaloniki. It celebrates its patron, the great martyr Saint Demetrius of Myroblytis, model of courage, model of Christ’s faith. They are what we want today. On this day the glorious, heroic Greek army, a miracle of Saint Demetrius, entered Thessaloniki, liberated it, liberated Macedonia, saved Greece”.
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