Limassol Port
It is a special honour for me to address today's address at the ceremony of placing the Honorary Plaque "Children Hosted in Greece 1974-1979".
The late Metropolitan Athanasios I of Ilia and Oleni, in a telegram to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, announced his intention to host 500 primary school students. Subsequently, he informed the President of the Greek Government as well as the Ministry of Social Services of Greece, requesting that the relevant instructions be given for the implementation of his offer.
The path opened by the Bishop of Ilia and Oleni was followed by the Welfare Organization, the Athens College, the Commercial Association of Xanthi, the Masonic Lodge of Patras, the Holy Metropolis of Kissamos and Selinou in Crete, the Holy Metropolis of Eleftheroupolis, and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The list of offers reaching the Ministry of Education was long and endless. The Ministry of Education accepted applications from parents and was responsible for the safe passage to Greece of students aged 6-17 years old.
Through the Ministry of Education four missions were carried out, which departed from the New Port of Limassol as follows:
21/9/1974 with the ship "PATRA"
7/10/1974 with the ship "PATRA"
15/10/1974 with the ship "OINOUSAI"
26/10/1974 with the ship "ADONIS"
Although the children were not accompanied by their parents, the expeditions were nevertheless accompanied by teachers. Headed by the Inspector of Primary Education of Famagusta Takis Christodoulides and the Director of Primary Education Elpidophoros Yiagou. Also, the second mission included children for whom applications were made through the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus and these children were accompanied by the then Theophilos Bishop of Amathus Kallinikos.
A large number of children were hosted in institutions throughout the territory of Greece. Indicatively we mention some regions such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Komotini, Ioannina, Messolonghi, Volos, Patras, Zakynthos, Tripoli, Crete, Chios and of course Ilia, where we find the largest number of children in foster families.
Several children, through foster care, have gained beautiful memories and managed to create lasting relationships with the members of these families.
While, initially, the hosting of the children lasted for one school year (1974-1975), a large number of children stayed to continue their education in Greek schools in the following year (1975-1976).
There were also children who, after their repatriation, chose to return again to Greece and mainly to the families where they were hosted. Cypriot children continued to attend Greek schools, taking advantage of the offers made to the Ministry of Education until June 1979.
Based on the Ministry of Education's archives and subsequent research, more than 2,000 children were hosted in Greece during the 1974-1975 school year. There were cases when families of displaced children travelled to Greece and were hosted by local authorities, the exact number of children remains unknown to this day.
The hosting of children in Greece and the fostering of 456 pupils by the Holy Metropolis of Ilia was a consequence of the Turkish invasion of 1974 and is an act of support by the Greeks for our bleeding Cyprus.
The hosting of children in Greece and the fostering of 456 pupils by the Holy Metropolis of Ilia was a consequence of the Turkish invasion of 1974 and is an act of support by the Greeks for our bleeding Cyprus.
Through this historical event, selfless love, giving, solidarity, describing a society half a century ago, which unfortunately, as long as there are wars, always remains relevant for the lessons and messages it sends on a social, individual and educational level.
Thank you.
(ΘΓ/EΠ)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
