The restored historic church of Ag. Andreas Peristeras was inaugurated by Archbishop Hieronymos
Message unity was addressed by the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Jeromecelebrating at noon the inauguration of the restored historic Holy Church of Agios Andreas Peristera, of the Holy Metropolis of Ierissos, Mount Athos and Ardameri, in the community of Peristera in the municipality of Thermi. Thessaloniki.
“The unity of the church can also inspire the unity of our people” said Mr. Hieronymos and added:
“The unity of all of us is something that is needed more than ever. According to the Christian spirit, of tradition, everyone has personal opinions, personal experiences and choices. But the result is that we have to work together, help each other, work together to face the difficulties and problems that they have or that threaten to come.”
Mr. Hieronymos, in his opposition to the Metropolitan of Ierissos, Mount Athos and Ardameri, Mr. Theokletos, underlined that “this period is not a peaceful time”, while he recalled “upheavals” and “raids” earlier in history and added:
“The worries of every season should not bring us to tears, but help us, through the concept of hope, and unity, as we will work together, beyond small, beyond the deliberate inventions of difficulties, from difficulties, not to lose our unity”.
At another point, he underlined that “the church is not a party faction”, it does not belong to anyone, but it is “the popular base” and that “everyone cannot do what they want” in its space. He stressed that everyone who participates in it must respect the body of the church and added: “Otherwise, if he disagrees, or wants his own opinions to prevail at the expense of the many and this is not possible, he leaves.”
Mr. Hieronymos also referred to recent legislative arrangements for the clergy, saying that “Parliament gave us a law that owed us two hundred years”. He noted that good cooperation between church and state is necessary “for man” and announced an event, which he will attend with the prime minister, on September 14.
He thanked for the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture Lina Mendoni, who was present at the opening, saying that apart from the work he has done for this particular temple, he has contributed to many other projects throughout the country and to the restoration of monuments.
Mendoni: An important monument of the cultural heritage of our homeland
The Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, described the church of Agios Andreas as an “Important monument of the cultural heritage of our country” that is intertwined with the history of the region, expressing her joy and emotion for her presence at its inauguration.
“Truly the archaeological service, the Thessaloniki Regional Tax Office, did a very important quality restoration project of the church and I am happy because this church, which is so loved by the people here, is finding its place in the everyday life of the local society.”
Mrs. Mendoni thanked the Metropolitan Mr. Theoklitos and the Archbishop Mr. Ieronymos for the cooperation and for the honorary distinction of the First Class Megalastavros, which was awarded for her contribution to the church.
The Byzantine church, which had significant infrastructure problems and had suffered damage over the years, was restored as part of an operational program of the Region of Central Macedonia, with co-financing from Greece and the EU. from the NSRF 2014-2020, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Antiquities Tax Office of the Thessaloniki Region.
The church of Agios Andreas is one of the oldest Byzantine churches, an amazing monument of early Byzantine architecture, quadrangular, cruciform, with five domes. It was built in 871 AD. by Saint Euthymius, and was the Catholic Church of the Holy Monastery of Peristeri. The foundations of the building, together with the four columns, date back to the 4th AD. century.
The inauguration was also attended by the MPs Th. Karaoglou, S. Anastasiadis, D. Vartzopoulos, S. Famellos, G. Arvanitidis and K. Adamou, the mayor of Thermi Th. Papadopoulos, the deputy regional governor V. Patoulidou, the representatives of the security and army, the metropolitans, Mr. Apostolos of Miletus, Mr. Iustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria, priests and citizens.
Source: RES-MPE