Interview of His Eminence Metropolitan of Austria Mr. Arsenios

Annousakeio Foundation-Infirmary of the Holy Metropolis of Kisamos and Selinon received a great offer of love and respect from the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi. More specifically, the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi offered to the Holy Metropolis of Kisamos and Selinon, in order to meet the increasing needs of our fellow citizens who struggle with poverty, more than one tonne of poultry, which will be distributed to the soup kitchens of our Metropolis, through social Services and Programs of "Aid at Home" which Annousakeio Foundation operates, among other actions.

The historic village of Kandanos celebrated the feast of the Ascension of Christ our Saviour, as the central parish church is dedicated to our Lord's Ascension. His Eminence Metropolitan of Austria Mr. Arsenios presided over the Divine Liturgy and His Eminence our Bishop Mr. Amphilochios co-officiated, along with many Priests of the province of Selinon. His Eminence our Metropolitan welcomed the Bishop of Austria Mr. Arsenios and referred to the history and offer of Kandanos. Then, His Eminence Mr. Arsenios thanked our Bishop and talked about the great gift of Christ's peace. In the end, the mayor of Kandanos-Selinon Mr. Dermitzakis made a greeting speech, followed by a lavish meal offered by the people of the Kandanos Parish.

A number of expatriates from the historic Parish of St. Nicholas of Cardiff in Wales, led by the Chief Clergyman of the community Most Reverend Archimandrite Mr. Jacob Savvas, are hosted in Kisamos during the present week, as part of their visit in Crete. Our Bishop Mr. Amphilochios met the expatriates of Great Britain and expressed his delight, as he happened to have served the GreekOrthodox community of the Archdiocese of Thyatira for more than 4 years as a Chief Clergyman himself. The expatriates visited Annousakeio Foundation of our Metropolis, to which they donated 3,000 pounds, which will be used to equip one of the rooms of the Foundation aimed for disabled people.

On Wednesday June 12, His Eminence our Metropolitan Mr. Amphilochios had the pleasure to welcome His Eminence Metropolitan of Austria Mr. Arsenios and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Isburg of Austria, along with a number of participants, during a dialogue conference which is taking place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete. His Eminence our Bishop, after thanking his guests for their visit, welcomed them and referred to the course of the Ecumenical movement and the necessity of finding a common path in Christendom, to jointly address the major problems of humanity (poverty, unemployment, environmental destruction, etc.). His Eminence Metropolitan of Austria Mr. Arsenios, thanked our Bishop for his hospitality and talked about the efforts made in this direction and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Isburg expressed his happiness for this communication.

Speech only available in Greek

On Sunday June 9 at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation in Kisamos was celebrated a synodical liturgy, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop of Crete Eirinaios, with the participation of Bishops of the island and His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera. After the liturgy, the 40-day memorial of the late Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selinon Irineos was celebrated.

We inform you that all the articles and videos concerning the dormition of the late Metropolitan Irineos Galanakis can be found in the new submenu "Eternal be his Memory" 1911-2013, which is part of the vertical menu "Former Metropolitan Irineos".

Our Metropolis, in the context of Social Solidarity, offers organised soup kitchens for people who are in need (unemployed, impoverished, economic immigrants, homeless, elderly, etc), as well as packages of food, clothing, medicine and free medical examination, in an effort to help cover the growing needs of our destitute brothers.

More specifically, the offer includes:

• 78,475 portions of food for the 85 inmates of the Foundation, as well as for the 130 people from the wider region who are also provided with 215 (x 365) portions daily.
• 795 bags of various food items: pasta, legumes, dairy products etc, 12 kg each, a total of 9,540 kg.
• Medicine to 125 families.
• Clothing to138 families.
• In individual cases, bed mattresses and bed covering were also given.
• 25 packages of clothing to inmates of Agia Prisons in Chania.
• Free examination of the community through volunteer work by an Urologist.

Also, our Foundation, in collaboration with the Medical Association of Chania and the medical community of the region, has set up a Social Infirmary, as a necessity imposed by the effects of the multifaceted crisis experienced by our country and its people.

Inclusion of beneficiaries in the Social Infirmary Program will be realised after submitting the required documents proving the difficult economic situation of those interested.

Information - Applications for recording incidents and
document submission provided by the Social Services
of the Foundation.

Contact Tel: 2822022276 Fr. Antonios Aretakis