The Dedication of the Holy Church of Saint Anne in the ‘Marianna V. Vardinoyannis’ Children’s Oncology Unit was performed during a devout ceremony, in the presence of His Excellency the President of the Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II and His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos, on Monday, 9 December 2019.
The Church, donated by the Vardis I. Vardinoyannis family to the Children’s Oncology Unit, is dedicated to Saint Anne and will celebrate its feast day on 9 December.
The blessing ceremony was performed by His Eminence Metropolitan Symeon of Fthiotida , and subsequently, the Director of the Agia Sofia and P&A Kyriakou Children’s Hospitals, Mr Manolis Papasavvas, in a short but moving speech, thanked the Vardinoyannis family and Mr Vardis I. Vardinoyannis personally, whom he referred to as the “great benefactor of the Hospital”.
In recognition of the great and continuous contribution to the Children’s Oncology Unit, the Director awarded Mr Vardis I. Vardinoyannis an honorary plaque which his wife, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, received on his behalf. The Director of the Hospitals bestowed an icon of Saint Anne on Mrs Marianna Vardinoyannis.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Mrs Niki Kerameos, who represented the government, the wife of the President of the Republic, Mrs Sissy Pavlopoulou, the President of the Kinima Allagis Party, Mrs Fofi Gennimata, Mr Nikos Xydakis, representing SYRIZA, the Minister of Health, Mr Vassilis Kikilias, KKE MP Mrs Liana Kanelli, the Metropolitan of Guinea, Georgios, members of the Boards of the ELPIDA and ORAMA ELPIDAS Associations, the medical and nursing staff of the Unit and the young patients of the Unit with their families.
The Hellenic Navy marching band provided musical accompaniment for the event.
“May this chapel be a sanctuary of comfort, relief and hope for the children in our Hospital and for their parents. It is dedicated to Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. I hope with all my heart that it lightens and soothes the souls of those who need it”, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, President of the ELPIDA Association, stated after the ceremony.