The statue of Archbishop Damaskinos Papandreou is located in a small square opposite the Metropolitan Church of Athens. It is the work of sculptor Fanis Sakellariou. The statue of Archbishop Damaskinos was made in 1991 in bronze and depicts the Archbishop holding a pastoral staff in his left hand, with his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing. The facade of the pedestal bears the words in Greek and English:
DAMASKINOS, ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS AND ALL GREECE
1891 – 1949
On the left side of the pedestal is written:
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS AND ALL GREECE SERAPHIMOS, THE HOLY SYNOD IN 1991 BUILT A PLACE OF HONOR AND GRATITUDE. SCULPTOR EPIEI FANIS SAKELLARIOU.
On the reverse side of the pedestal is written:
Archbishop Damaskinos during the German occupation (1943): “The hierarchs of Greece are not shot, they are hung. Respect this tradition...»
Archbishop-Ethnarch Damaskinos stood by the suffering people during the occupation (1941-44), defended their freedoms and rights and resolutely opposed the persecution of Greek Jews during the Holocaust.
It is necessary to explain his words, understandable to Greeks and incomprehensible to tourists.
At the beginning of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Patriarch Gregory V was hanged by the Turks.
Damaskin became archbishop in 1941. During the occupation, he carried out significant social activities, creating the National Organization of Social Solidarity (EOXA), which contributed to helping the population not only of Athens but also of the province. He sought the abolition of death sentences for Greek patriots. In addition, he defended Greek Jews and Roma. On March 23.1943, Damaskin sent a written protest in defense of the Jews of Thessaloniki. A representative of the occupying German administration threatened him with execution. And then the archbishop uttered these historic words: "The hierarchs of Greece are not shot, they are hanged. Respect this tradition... ". The Germans put him under house arrest, but did not try him.
This man enjoyed such high authority in Greece and Europe that after the liberation of Greece, he was appointed regent and ruled the country until the establishment of royal power in September 1946.
DAMASKINOS, ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS AND ALL GREECE
1891 – 1949
On the left side of the pedestal is written:
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS AND ALL GREECE SERAPHIMOS, THE HOLY SYNOD IN 1991 BUILT A PLACE OF HONOR AND GRATITUDE. SCULPTOR EPIEI FANIS SAKELLARIOU.
On the reverse side of the pedestal is written:
Archbishop Damaskinos during the German occupation (1943): “The hierarchs of Greece are not shot, they are hung. Respect this tradition...»
Archbishop-Ethnarch Damaskinos stood by the suffering people during the occupation (1941-44), defended their freedoms and rights and resolutely opposed the persecution of Greek Jews during the Holocaust.
It is necessary to explain his words, understandable to Greeks and incomprehensible to tourists.
At the beginning of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Patriarch Gregory V was hanged by the Turks.
Damaskin became archbishop in 1941. During the occupation, he carried out significant social activities, creating the National Organization of Social Solidarity (EOXA), which contributed to helping the population not only of Athens but also of the province. He sought the abolition of death sentences for Greek patriots. In addition, he defended Greek Jews and Roma. On March 23.1943, Damaskin sent a written protest in defense of the Jews of Thessaloniki. A representative of the occupying German administration threatened him with execution. And then the archbishop uttered these historic words: "The hierarchs of Greece are not shot, they are hanged. Respect this tradition... ". The Germans put him under house arrest, but did not try him.
This man enjoyed such high authority in Greece and Europe that after the liberation of Greece, he was appointed regent and ruled the country until the establishment of royal power in September 1946.
Translated automatically from Ukrainian. View original
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