K. TSIARAS: Thank you. This is not my first time here, in San Francisco. Six years ago I had the opportunity, with a Greek parliamentary delegation, to reciprocate a visit from west-coast U.S. Congressmen and be here with many of you – specifically, with His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos.
In particular, I appreciate being among a mixed congregation with a common principle, the common denominator of our faith, Orthodox Christianity. I am here to try to form the interactive relationship that Hellenism abroad needs to have with the mother country. I am here on the instructions of Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, whose greeting I convey to you, in a major effort to set our country back on its feet so that we can give all Greek citizens the opportunities they deserve.
Our shared point of reference – and one sees this when one is far from Greece – is the hearths of our religious faith, the Church, the place where we are now. The Church is a space that brings together not just the Greeks of the world, but all people who have managed to meet and hold dear in their lives their faith and a close relationship with Orthodox Christian faith.
I would like to express how greatly moved I am to be here to attend a Mass with great devotion and respect, Father Apostolos, Father Nikolaos, and I am really happy because the Greek Orthodox Church has young and accomplished, really capable priests who can ensure its continuity and, mainly, give us the hope that the present and future of Orthodox national faith and Hellenism can be together with the Church.
I would like thank you all and wish you the best. Each person’s life, wherever we are, whatever the difficulties we come up against, is an ongoing struggle, and in this struggle we are all trying for, and we all want, the best possible result. Take care, and I wish the best to each of you.
September 17, 2012