Its operation is estimated to start early 2026
The President of the Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas, He visited in the morning and toured the premises of the Ionian Center of the Holy Metropolis of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalkidon, accompanied by the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Hieronymos, Metropolitan Ioniou Maximus.
The Ionian Center will include a Youth Cultural – Cultural Center, Hosting Center, Kindergarten, Church of St. George of Neapolitos, Library, Hospital, Green Square and its operation is estimated that it will begin early 2026, offering public services.
Immediately after the tour the President of the Republic made a statement referring to “a miracle of creation and at the same time a miracle of cooperation between private sponsors, European resources and national funds” and added that “And this miracle has to do with a new perception of the modern role of our Church.”
In particular, in his statement, Mr. Tasoulas said: “Today here in Perissos, in the Municipality of Nea Ionia in the District of the Holy Metropolis of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalkidonos in the presence of His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens His Eminence Metropolitan of Ioannina, members of the Council of Ministers, Attica Regional Governor and Local Government, we have experienced a tour of a miracle.
A miracle of creation and at the same time a miracle of cooperation between private sponsors, European resources and national funds. And this miracle has to do with a new perception of the modern role of our Church.
The local church of Nea Ionia, the local refugee church decided to connect yesterday with today and tomorrow.
And we are here witnesses of a shocking work that expands the concept of the Church. The church is not only what we see behind us, Saint George the Neapolitis who is completed soon, the patron saint of Nea Ionia and the patron of the Metropolis, the Church is also the gathering, the gathering. And here we saw a state -of -the -art theater, a state -of -the -art conference center, a state -of -the -art library, a state -of -the -art kindergarten, a state -of -the -art underground parking lot which also relieves traffic congestion in the wider area. We have seen eight acres, green and leisure spaces, a lounge, a construction creation of amazing under the inspiration of the Metropolitan of Nea Ionia, so that the Church would give a great answer and practical response to the needs of modern society and not just local.
Here we will have cultural events, events of the clubs of the area, the municipalities of the area, the four municipalities in the area, 100 children will be hosted here at kindergartenand so the Church proves that it is not committed to a narrow cycle of events but makes an amazing opening to society, meeting these needs.
Underneath ‘Saint George there is a museum. It is the connection to the sacred repository of the refugee.
The refugees, as they left, as they left under dramatic conditions from the land of Ionia, carried what they could. But they did not forget their sacred respects, the relics from their churches. They brought them here. These are today in various churches in this region. When the museum is completed, they will all come together here to remind the uproar, but uprooting was not limited to despair. There was a reaction to the despair of uprooting. And the population the uprooted rooted on this land. And today this land turns into this construction miracle that mainly calls for youth to enjoy modern means of communication, modern social contact, modern media. So we have a connection yesterday with today and tomorrow.
The same will be done with the scene of St. George, patron saint of Nea Ionia, who will be transferred here. The Holy Metropolis of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalkidon gives the shocking example of a pioneering church, which is identified with society, embracing society and embraced by it. Here will become a bee, a beehive of activities that we will all boast and be an example that I am sure, respectful, will be followed by other metropolises, because other metropolises in Greece are doing this impressive opening to society that is in response.
I would like to congratulate my heart on this shocking experience of creating and cooperating with His Eminence Metropolitan of Nea Ionia Gabriel, to congratulate the sponsors, Mrs. Latsis, Mr. Martin, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the Bank of Piraeus All of these factors, along with two large construction companies, worked and brought this result. That is why, at the beginning of my statement, I talked about the miracle of creation and the cooperation of the Church and the State and the sponsors.
Warmest congratulations to everyone and everyone soon inaugurated. “
Also present at the premises of the Ionian Center of the Holy Metropolis of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalkidon, among others, the Deputy Prime Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, Minister of Health, Minister of Health Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou, the Deputy Minister under the Prime Minister and government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, Attica Regional Governor Nikos Chardalias, as well as the mayors of Nea Ionia Panagiotis Manouris, Nea Thanouris
