The celebration of the 81st Anniversary of the liberation of Kastellorizo
His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Symi, Tilos, Halki and Kastellorizo recently travelled to Kastellorizo to celebrate 81st anniversary of the liberation of the island with the local residents, which is a constant practice of his since his installation as Metropolitan of the Metropolis with many islands.
On Friday morning, 13 September, Metropolitan Chrysostomos presided over the official Doxology Service which took place at the Metropolitan Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, and was joined by the local Hierarchical Vicar, Archimandrite Nikodemos Sklepas, as well as by Father Georgios Maltezos, a retired priest. The Doxology was also attended by Mr. Nicholas Dendias, Minister of National Defence of Greece. The Minister was accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Commander of Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Theodorou, and the Commander of the 95 National Guard Higher Command, Major General Emmanuel Hatzis. After the Dismissal of the Doxology, the Principal of the High School of the island, Mrs. Betty Mouzak, delivered the day’s Panegyric.
Afterwards, representatives of the Authorities, students and the people made their way to the area of the Memorial of the Fallen where a memorial service took place and was presided over by Metropolitan Chrysostomos for the repose of the souls of “all those who fought for faith and country and fell gloriously” and wreaths were laid by the representative of the Greek Government Mr. Nicholas Dendias. A minute’s silence followed, while the modest ceremony closed with the playing of the National Anthem.
Present among others and participating in the anniversary events were, in addition to the aforementioned, the Member of Parliament of the Ilia Municipality, Mr. Dimitrios Avramopoulos, as a representative of the Hellenic Parliament, the members of Parliament for the Dodecanese Islands, Mr. Vasilios Ypsilantis, Mr. Manos Konsolas, Mr. Ioannis Pappas, Ms. Tsambika Iatridi and Mr. Georgios Nikitiadis, the Deputy Regional Governor of the Dodecanese, Mr. Apostolos Asprakis, the Mayor of Megisti, Mr. Nikolaos Asvestis, as well as other representatives of the local Military, Police and Port Authorities.
