On Saturday, 13 December 2025, the Greek Orthodox Parish of Milan held, for the second consecutive year, its Christmas Celebration, an initiative that was entirely organised by the Parish itself and warmly embraced once again this year by a large number of attendees.
The event was opened with a greeting by the Parish Priest, Archimandrite Ioannis Batsis, who conveyed to all the paternal blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Polykarpos of Italy and spoke particularly about the significance of the Christmas feast, emphasising that its true meaning lies in Christ Himself, the Incarnate Word of God, whom modern reality often tends to overlook or forget. He also stressed that the Church and Christians have a duty to remind others, through their lives and testimony, of the true essence of Christmas.
Brief greetings were also offered by the President of the Greek Community of Milan and the Honorary Consul of Greece in Milan.
The program continued with a Christmas performance dedicated to the Birth of Christ, featuring poems and songs presented by the Greek Language Departments of Milan and Pavia, under the guidance of educator Mrs. Georgia Vaina.
The celebration was accompanied by Byzantine hymns performed by the Parish chanters, as well as Christmas carols and songs in multiple languages, Greek, Italian, Arabic, Georgian, Romanian, and English, highlighting the multinational and universal character of parish life.
Special recognition is due to the youth of the Parish, who played a crucial role in organising and ensuring the smooth running of the entire celebration, actively supporting the Parish Priest and demonstrating that the Church has a living continuity and a future.
The evening concluded in an atmosphere of joy and hospitality, with the parish bazaar, festive treats, and warm beverages, all of which were prepared and offered entirely voluntarily by the ladies and members of the Parish, as an expression of love, service, and devotion.
