The prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis He visited the afternoon, accompanied by the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece Hieronymus, the Student Boarding of the Apostolic Ministry of the Church, which hosts 70 students from Greece and around the world in Agia Varvara.
“I am with you today, at the beginning of the Great Week, in a space that perhaps better than many others the extremely rich and multifaceted social work of the Church of Greece and the Apostolic Ministry: in this boarding school, which today hosts 70 students from Greece and their 16 countries, Ecclesiastical schools or any other object, residing in a place, in a “ark” of love and optimism. And indeed, Blessed are the work you are doing here at the Boarding House is really great, “the prime minister said in the presence of the Minister of Education, Religions and Sports Sofia Zacharakis, with the Archbishop, the Chief of the Hospital.
The prime minister reaffirmed that the issue of student housing is a key priority for the government. “I would like to remind you that our government was the one that significantly increased the rental allowance for the Student Housing. It is our Government that, and through the Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation, it launches reconstruction to student homes, which the truth is that they are not in very good shape. Here the boarding school is a standard structure that they would envy, to be honest, student homes that the state has.
We know, however, that on the housing issues and especially the students’ roof, we must do more. We have repeatedly discussed it with the Minister. And I take on this commitment before you, you wish, so that we can work together so that the footprint of the Church in this crucial area is further enhanced.
We have discussed extensively about the possibility of utilizing plots that you have at your disposal in various parts of Athens, where a corresponding structure could relatively easily build that can significantly increase the ability of the Church of Greece to accommodate children in need, “Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized.
In this context, the Church of Greece, as the Archbishop announced, is proceeding with the construction of a new boarding school on Alexandra Avenue, which is to be founded in May.
The prime minister also referred to the important role played by sponsors in both the multifaceted support and reconstruction of existing structures and the construction of new ones and highlighted the offer of donors to the modernization of the Boarding Equipment in Agia Varvara.
“I would like to thank on this occasion and Silia Krithariotis and Nikos Tsakos for their very kind sponsorship and reaffirm that there are many sponsors who are on the side of the church to support her in her work. Our job, our mission, Blessed are, is to be able to facilitate such initiatives so that the Church of Greece will further increase its important social footprint, “he noted.
“We have doubled the budget for both the Apostolic Ministry and, as the following, there is an even greater share here for the boarding school, where this multidimensional upbringing of children is practiced, in a spiritual environment and in a very interesting social context,” said the Minister of Education and Sports. “Together, individuals and the state, we become one of our help to our most vulnerable fellow citizen, we can bring a much better result, which helps any new person, wherever he is born, have an equality of opportunities -and do so here at the boarding school,” he added.
During the visit, the prime minister toured the boarding school facilities, lit a candle in the chapel of St. John Chrysostom and talked to students, who sought religious hymns and traditional songs.
Correction of an injustice or expanding the beneficiaries of the deafness allowance
During the visit, the prime minister and the Archbishop referred to the government’s decision to expand the perimeter of the beneficiaries of the deafness allowance, including the age group of 18-65 years, which was aimed at both the state and the church.
“Too great the announcement and the result. I have been working close to these people since my 25 years and I know what it means to be a home that has three, four deaf, what expenses they have and what difficulty of communicating. Somewhere they felt complained, unfair. I transferred it to government, ministries, ministers. He reached the prime minister, “Mr Hieronymos noted.
“I convey the thanks of these people whose allowance is a good allowance, throughout their lives and not a year, two years and so on. They felt a security, confidence and weeping took me today to thank me, and I convey the thanks to the Prime Minister and his government, “the Church of Greece added.
“You were one of the first to have personally made me aware of an injustice that was finally corrected today,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. “So this injustice is corrected. Our fellow citizens will be able to receive this allowance throughout their lives. In this way we do not just restore an injustice, but we give them, Blessed, and the ability to be able to have one more motivation for an equal participation in the social and economic life of our country. And because I know you have personally dealt with these issues very much, I think this government decision is your own personal justification, “the prime minister continued.
Tangible support of the presidential Patriarchates and the Sinai Monastery
The debate was also highlighted by the recent government’s decision to support the Cleric Posts and the Sinai Monastery with 600 clergy seats. “For the first time, a very bold decision was made by the State to allocate 600 clergy positions for our Embassy Patriarchates but also for the Sinai Monastery, which after decades the legal status is finally clarified, so that we can support it in our Greek and Greek work. Africa, “the prime minister said.
The best are in front of us
After his departure from the boarding school, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had the opportunity to chat with citizens in Agia Varvara. “Let me tell you a big thank you. We continue strong, we go to the country in front of the difficulties. I wish you a good resurrection, Happy Easter and hold one: The best are in front of us, “he said during his discussion with locals.
