On Thursday, September 5, 2024, the Regional Governor of the North Aegean, Konstantinos Moutzouris, welcomed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with the honors of a Head of State at the port of Chios, alongside representatives of the local political and military authorities.
In his brief address, the Ecumenical Patriarch warmly thanked the Regional Governor for the invitation.
On Friday, September 6, His All-Holiness visited the headquarters of the Regional Unit of Chios, where he received a warm reception from the Governor and the Regional Councilors.
Governor Moutzouris described the Patriarch’s presence as a singular honor for the Region. He presented the Patriarch with a symbolic Archieratical Encolpion (bishop’s pectoral icon), receiving in return symbolic mementos of this historic visit.
In his response, the Patriarch thanked the Governor and his associates, stating:
”We hold Aegean Chios in special affection as an Aegean islander ourselves, who first saw the light of the sun in lovely Imbros. For us, the sea breeze and the endless blue of the Aegean are priceless existential elements. Yet, it is not only nature that constitutes the uniqueness of the Aegean, but its cultural history as well. Here, the universal values that made it the axis of world civilization were born.”
Workshop on Climate Change
On the afternoon of the same day, a “Workshop on Climate Change” was held at a packed Pearl Island Chios hotel hall, featuring distinguished speakers from Greece and abroad.
Following the opening remarks by Konstantinos Moutzouris, the keynote speakers addressed the audience:
- Ioannis Spanolios (President of “Oloi Mazi Boroume”): Shared memories of his childhood in Chios and the shift in societal attitudes toward the environment, emphasizing the need for collective action against the climate crisis.
- George Kremlis (Honorary Director of the European Commission): Discussed the impact of the climate crisis on island life, proposing a pilot program for green maritime fuels and a protection plan for mastic trees threatened by microclimate changes.
- Tonia Moropoulou (Professor Emerita at NTUA): Spoke on creating a pilot program for the sustainable development of Chios through endogenous growth and local community support.
- Ioannis Faraclas (Journalist/Shipping Expert): Relayed greetings from Dimitris Monioudis (Society of Greek Oriental Engineers UK/INTERCARGO) and highlighted the global shipping industry’s efforts to protect the environment, noting it contributes less than 3% of global emissions.
- Alexandra Rickham (Paralympian, Director of Sustainability at World Sailing): Stressed that sports can lead environmental initiatives and serve as a catalyst for sustainable development.
- Stamatis Krimizis (President of the Academy of Athens): Spoke on space exploration and Earth’s history, noting the critical role of CO_2 levels in planetary sustainability. He concluded by referencing the “two Pandora’s boxes”: Artificial Intelligence and climate crisis management.
- Christos Zerefos (Secretary General of the Academy of Athens): Explained how Earth’s axis and orbit affect sea levels and climate parameters, masterfully linking music and art to the environment.
Prokopios Pavlopoulos (Former President of the Hellenic Republic): Delivered a speech on “Climate Change” as part of the 3rd Chios Festival.
As a Keynote Speaker, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, delivered an enlightened speech on the multidimensional ecological initiatives the Ecumenical Patriarchate has developed over the last four decades.
He emphasized: “The protection of the natural environment is a consequence and extension of all that takes place within the Church, whose entire life has an ecological texture and reference. Ecclesiastical life is ‘applied ecology’.”
He also noted his commitment to sensitizing the younger generation to environmental protection.
The event was attended by political and military authorities, as well as:
Former Ministers Georgios Anomeritis and Notis Mitarakis.
MP Stavros Michaelidis.
Archons of the Patriarchate, including Captain Panagiotis Tsakos, George and Alexandra Procopiou, and Prof. Georgios Babiniotis.
Academic leaders including the Rector of the University of the Aegean, Dimitris Papageorgiou, and various esteemed professors.
Prominent members of the shipping and diaspora communities from the US, UK, and Argentina.
The Patriarch was accompanied by the Metropolitans of Chios, Aetolia & Acarnania, Smyrna, and Mexico.
The event was presented by SKAI journalist Korina Georgiou. The evening concluded with an official dinner hosted by the Regional Governor in honor of the Patriarch. During the dinner, the Vice Governor of Culture, Michalis Dissos, chanted the Polychronism (a traditional liturgical wish for longevity), and world-renowned soprano Christina Poulitsi performed a famous aria dedicated to His All-Holiness.
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