Celebratory gathering of Chalcedonians in Athens
A Celebratory gathering of memory and unity took place in Glyfada, Athens.
The Chalcedon–Modi friends’ group, which manages the relevant Facebook page and consists of Ms Charikleia Profilidou, Ms Eleni Maroutsi, Ms Toula Simitsoglou, and Mr Menos Christidis, once again organised a New Year luncheon this year, with great success.
More than 200 Chalcedonians from across the entire district of Chalcedon participated in the gathering.
The event was held at the Oasis Centre in Glyfada. The Vasilopita was blessed by His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, who also delivered the opening address.
Members of the Constantinopolitan Society of the Friends of Music in Athens sang the traditional carols.
Addresses followed by Ms Lena Katsi and Ms Toula Kioseoglou Simitsoglou, who, together with her husband, Fr Nikolaos Simitsoglou, returned to their birthplace two years ago and are working to bridge relations between Chalcedonians in Greece and the Community of Chalcedon in Constantinople.
Subsequently, the greeting message of Mr Giannis Demirtzoglou, President of the Community of Chalcedon and a resident of Chalcedon for 48 years, was read.
The luncheon developed into a warm and joyful reunion, culminating in a celebration, confirming that Chalcedonians, despite their dispersion, can still come together and keep alive their bond with their birthplace.
Warm congratulations were extended to the organising committee, along with thanks to Michalis Christakis for the photographic material.
Greeting of the President of the Community of Chalcedon:
Your Eminence, Elder Metropolitan of Chalcedon, Emmanuel,
Dear friends,
Dear Chalcedonians,
With great joy and emotion, I address my greeting to you, as President of our Community, on the occasion of the cutting of the Vasilopita.
Today’s gathering is not merely a beautiful tradition; it is living proof that wherever we may be, Chalcedonians remain bound by invisible yet exceptionally strong threads: memory, history, and our shared origin.
Chalcedon is not only a place. It is a way of life; it is values, customs and traditions; it is the neighbourhood, the churches, and the human relationships that endure through time and distance. And it is this strength of our community that allows us to stand beside one another, as supporters and companions, in every corner of the world.
On the occasion of the new year, I would like to send a sincere message of unity and closeness. The door of Chalcedon remains open to all of you, to those who wish to visit more often, to those who are considering a more substantial reconnection with their birthplace, and even, why not, to those who may one day wish to return permanently.
Our Community is ready to welcome you, to host you, and to stand beside you in a tangible way, even in matters of permanent residence. For we firmly believe that the return of people with roots, memories, and love for our homeland is a blessing and a source of strength for the present and the future of Chalcedon.
In closing, I wish that the new year may bring health, peace, and personal and family happiness to us all.
I also wish that it may find us united, strong, and present for one another, wherever we may live.
A good and blessed New Year, and until we meet again… in Chalcedon. We await you!
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