WORLD

World President of Hellenes Abroad in the Ukraine

Mr. Andrew A. Athens, President of World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), recently visited Mariupol, in the Ukraine, within the framework of SAE’s Medical Relief Program which targets Hellenic communities in the new republics of the former Soviet Union.

“We estimate that the new clinic will be ready by the end of the year,” said Mr. Athens.

SAE medical center and nurses networks already operate successfully in the Republics of Georgia and the Ukraine and serve thousands of Hellenes and other local patients who lacked basic health care until now.

During the first day of his visit, Mr. Athens, Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigoris Niotis, and representatives of the Federation of Hellenic Associations of the Ukraine were warmly welcomed at the town hall by Mayor George Hatloubey, of Greek origin. In his speech, the mayor accentuated the importance of the assistance provided by SAE and the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the people of the region.

The Greek mission was next present at a ceremony at the Human Studies Institute of Mariupol, where an honorary doctor’s degree was bestowed upon Mr. Niotis. Institute’s president Constanine Balabanov, also of Greek origin, and Alexandra Prochenko-Pitsatzi, President of the Federation and newly elected member of SAE Executive Board in the elections during SAE World Convention in December, praised the positive results of the cooperation between the Ministry and SAE for the Hellenes of the Ukraine.

The Institute serves educators for the 25 Hellenic schools in the Ukraine and the Greek language is officially part of the curriculum. The Greek group mission was also present at the inauguration of the new building of the new Federation where the Greek language is also taught.

The group also visited Saint Nikolaus Cathedral in Tsermalik where the relics of Metropolitan Ignatius are kept. The metropolitan had led Hellenes of the Crimea region during their flight to Azof to avoid local persecution 220 years ago. The Russian Patriarchate recently agreed to celebrate the metropolitan as a saint.

The group also visited Sartana village. Most of Sartana’s 6.000 population is of Hellenic origin. The mission visited the small museum where exhibits on the local history of Hellenes are displayed.

During Mr. Athens’ visit in the Ukraine, donations were made to assist the Federation of Hellenic Associations with the expenses of the new building and to support the completion of Saint George’s church in Sartana. The church had been demolished during Stalin’s era.

During the two-day visit, in the mission also participated: Dimitris Pantermalis, President of the Inter-parliamentary Committee of the Greek Parliament for Hellenes Abroad, Angelos Aslanides, Vice-President of SAE and Coordinator of Region Europe, Dimitris Glaros, President of the Institute for the Resettlement of Returning Hellenes, Yannis Mavromatis, Consultant for the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace, representatives of the media and business people.

SAE’s humanitarian aid program will soon begin operating in cooperation with Archbishop Anastasios, of Tirana and All Albania, in the Hellenic communities of Southern Albania too.