It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of satisfaction that we welcome the relaunch of the program “Getting to Know the European Union and the European Parliament,” an initiative that was originally established through the vision and efforts of the late Archbishop Christodoulos. The program was discontinued in 2006, and now, after two decades, it returns with renewed momentum, offering new opportunities for communication, knowledge, and cooperation between the Church of Greece and the European institutions.
The revival of this important program is the result of the systematic efforts of the Office of the Representation of the Church of Greece to the European Union in Brussels, under the direction of His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Tanagra. Working quietly yet persistently, with consistency and determination, he has been instrumental in restoring an institution that had remained inactive for many years.
With the blessing of His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and following the briefing of the Holy Synod, the program has been brought back to life, enabling representatives of the Holy Metropolises of the Church of Greece to gain firsthand knowledge of the operation of European institutions and bodies, decision-making processes, and the role played by the European Parliament in shaping the policies of the European Union.
Special recognition is due to the two Greek Members of the European Parliament who contributed decisively to the program’s relaunch. MEP Ms. Eleonora Meleti, by hosting twenty participants, and MEP Mr. Dimitris Tsiodras, by covering the participation of four additional representatives, demonstrated in a tangible way their support for the program’s revival and for strengthening the ties between the Church of Greece and the European reality.
The first mission of the renewed program took place in Brussels from June 1 to June 3, with the participation of representatives from the Holy Metropolises of Alexandroupolis, Demetrias, Kifissia, Maroneia, Messinia, Patras, Hydra, and Chalkida. Participants had the opportunity to visit the fully renovated building of the Representation of the Church of Greece, learn about its work, gain firsthand insight into the functioning of the European Parliament, and meet prominent representatives of the Greek and ecclesiastical presence in Brussels.
A particularly noteworthy moment of the visit was the meeting with His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, an encounter that Bishop Apostolos of Tanagra specifically sought and included in the program. The visit was further enriched by the presence of distinguished figures such as the Ambassador of Greece, Mr. Ioannis Vrailas, and the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Mr. Kostis Vamvakas and Mrs. Marina Vamvaka.
The reactivation of this program is not merely the revival of an old initiative. It represents a meaningful step toward the outward engagement of the Church of Greece, a bridge of communication with Europe, and an opportunity for substantive dialogue on the shared values and the cultural and Christian heritage of our continent.
The relaunch of the program “Getting to Know the European Union and the European Parliament” is far more than the revival of a successful institution of the past. It is a meaningful investment in the future, a new channel of communication between the Church of Greece and the European decision-making centers, and a practical demonstration that cooperation, vision, and perseverance can breathe new life into initiatives of enduring value.
Twenty years after its suspension, an institution that left its own distinctive mark returns to illuminate new paths of knowledge, dialogue, and the creative presence of the Church within the contemporary European sphere. Its successful revival vindicates the efforts of all those who worked toward this goal and inspires optimism that future generations of Church leaders will have the opportunity to better understand Europe, communicate the values and traditions of Orthodoxy, and contribute meaningfully to shaping a future founded on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared cultural heritage.
Warm congratulations are therefore due to His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Tanagra, to the Office of the Representation of the Church of Greece to the European Union, and to the Greek Members of the European Parliament, Ms. Eleonora Meleti and Mr. Dimitris Tsiodras, whose support and cooperation played a decisive role in ensuring that an institution silenced in 2006 has once again found its voice, vision, and light for the decades ahead.
The successful relaunch of an institution that remained silent for twenty years now once again illuminates the path of cooperation and mutual understanding, returning stronger than ever.
And this return is not merely a revival of the past, but an investment in the future of the Church of Greece’s presence in the European dialogue and in the contemporary European landscape.
S. M. Tz.