On 9 May 2024 the Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikos Dendias attended the ceremony for the celebration of the Patron Saint of the Army, the Great Martyr St. George, which took place in Athens Music Hall, as representative of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The ceremony was attended by the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (HAF) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Deputy Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Rear Admiral Georgios Floros HN, as representative of the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, as well as general and senior officers of the Armed Forces.
The ceremony was also attended by MP Nikolaos Vlahakos as representative of the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Archimandrite – Brigadier General Meletios Kouraklis as representative of his Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Mr. Ieronymos II, the President of the Hellenic Court of Audit Sotiria Douni, the Supreme Court Prosecutor Georgia Adilini, his Eminence the Metropolitan of Mesogea and Lavreotiki Mr. Nikolaos, the President of the Academy of Athens Stamatios Krimizis, the Chief of the Fire Service, Fire Service Lieutenant General Theodoros Vagias, the Dean of the University of Piraeus Michail Sfakianakis, the Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Coastguard, Vice Admiral (CG) Tryfonas Kodizas, as representative of the Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Deputy Head of Region for Spatial Planning, Urban Planning & Applications in Attica, Eleftherios Kosmopoulos, the President of the Athens Municipal Council Emmanouil Velegrakis, the Mayor of Vari – Voula – Vouliagmeni Grigorios Konstantellos, the Mayor of Papagos – Holargos Ilias Apostolopoulos, active duty and retired officers of the Armed Forces and more.
The ceremony was hosted by actress Theofania Papathoma. During the ceremony there was a musical tribute by singers Evdokia Moysidou and Theodoros Voutsikakis accompanied by the Army Band of the Hellenic Army Support Command and the newly founded choir of the Nursing Officers Academy.
During his address the Minister of National Defence stated:
“Your Eminence, Reverend representing His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Holy Fathers, fellow MP representing the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Ms President of the Hellenic Court of Audit, Ms Supreme Court Prosecutor, Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Chiefs of the Armed and Security Forces, Dean, officials of Local Government, esteemed guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure and honour for me to be here in Athens Music Hall in the official celebrations in memory of St. George, Patron Saint of the Army and a predominant figure of our religious belief and folklore tradition.
Nikolaos Politis wrote that “In St. George one can find the archetype of the ancient hero”.
He has been the Patron Saint of the Army since 1953, as well as of the Infantry. The Arm which I also had the honour of serving as a reserve officer. Because when we say that St. George is the Patron Saint of the Army we do not only make word of those currently serving in it, but also of those who have worn or will wear the honourable uniform of the Greek soldier in the future.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
St. George connects the two dominant pillars of modern Hellenism.
Country and Orthodoxy.
He embodies the values of our country’s military saga writing in the collective mind.
With his image decorating our war flags and highlighting the dual role that our army serves, as the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff explained earlier.
Our Army is the deterrent tool, but also the main factor of contribution towards the Greek society.
It is guaranteed that it will deter any kind of aggression against our country, any irredentism, but will also be alongside all Greek women and men in their time of need.
The participation of the Army in five different European Union and NATO missions also underlines the capability of our country to become a stability factor.
We have already recently proceeded to enhance our participation in peace support operation “ALTHEA” in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Because you all know what a vital region the Western Balkans are for Greece. And our army is located in two places of the Balkans. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. And it is protecting not only Greek, but also European interests.
It is generally good to realise the need to show our capabilities outside our narrow borders too.
Because the interests of Hellenism and our country’s long-standing values cannot be contained within the borders of Greece.
We are and we will keep on being present outside our borders as well, where Greek and European interests demand us to be, fully understanding the dangers we are facing, always with self-confidence, self-denial, and a sense of duty.
Also, through the “Agenda 2030” we proceed to a new understanding of our Country’s Armed Forces.
We focus on the modernisation through the procurement of systems which are suitable for the 21st century.
Soon, you will be able to see the 35 new Black Hawk helicopters that the Hellenic Army has acquired flying in the Greek skies. They increase mobility, expand our capabilities, ensure our dominance and sovereign rights, but we also proceed and will keep proceeding in choosing inexpensive systems and force multipliers, in order to deal with this particular and challenging environment that the 21st century has created.
The role of innovation, ladies and gentlemen, cannot be omitted when trying to maintain our national independence.
Greece has grand ambitions, and it has to multiply its already great capabilities.
The creation of a defence innovation ecosystem is not beyond the capabilities of our country or society.
And I say that because in three days the public consultation for a bill based on which the Hellenic Centre of Development and Innovation will be created, which will cultivate the culture of innovation in our country’s Armed Forces.
In a few words, I believe that it will revolutionise the way we think of and act, invest, and develop cutting-edge technologies.
Greece can become a model country in that area.
But, of course, our defence capabilities are not by any means limited to systems, no matter how advanced they are.
And I want per chance of the celebrations for St. George to thank and congratulate all the personnel of the Army for their excellent response to their duties.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the personnel of the Army, as well as the gratitude of the entirety of the Greek society, for defending the territorial integrity of our country, as well as for supporting our society.
May St. George protect our Country and our Army.
He is a diachronic expression of the struggle for good and the triumph over evil.
I would like to recite a favourite stanza of mine by Seferis that I remember since childhood – George is my name after all – “May St. George rise on horseback and impale the dragon to the ground with his spear”.
Long live the Army.
Long live the Infantry.
Many happy returns to everyone.
Christ is risen!
Long live Greece!”
