The transportation of the sacred relic of Saint Barbara

On Sunday, the 1st of June 2003, a delegation of the Church of Greece's Apostoliki Diakonia arrived at the city of Venice, Italy, on a military aircraft assigned by the Greek Government, to receive a section of the sacred remains of the Holy Great Martyr Saint Barbara that are guarded there, pursuant to the courteous response of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Venice Mr. Angelo Scola to our Church's pious request.

Head of the delegation as representative of His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, was His Eminence the Bishop of Fanarion Agathangelos, General Director of the Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece. The delegation - comprised of Clergymen, Apostoliki Diakonia employees, and on behalf of the National Defense Chief of Staff, the Rev. Protopresbyter and Director of the Religious Services of the Armed Forces of our country, father Georgios Apostolakides - visited the Rev. Metropolitan of Italy Gennadios, at the Holy Cathedral of Saint George of the Hellenes, and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Venice, Mr. Angelo Scola.

The ceremony for the presentation of the sacred relic took place at 16.30 hrs in the afternoon, in the Cathedral of Saint Mark in Venice. The sacred relic was handed over to His Eminence the Bishop of Fanarion Agathangelos by the Patriarchal representative of the Bishop of Venice, Mr. Don Orlando Barbaro, who spoke about the collaboration between Christians and the importance of the Eastern Church's orthodox spirituality. In his return address, His Eminence the Bishop of Fanarion Agathangelos stressed - among other things - the following :

" We have come here today as pilgrims, to bend our knees in awe before the holy and grace-filled relics of the great and glorious Saints that are resting in the historical city of Venice - the other Byzantium - many of which have been translated to this place from Constantinople during various periods in history..., who, by their spiritual ascetic labours on this earth and their torturous deaths bore true witness to their living faith and to their hope. We have come to receive their blessing, and to be strengthened in our lives and our ministry.

Looking upon the faces of the pious faithful that are accompanying us today, who are standing in prayer with us in this historical Cathedral of Saint Mark, we can feel the power of faith, and can easily observe in these faces the Un-created Light, the blessed transformation of Saints, a picture of the old Church's congregations of witnesses, the Acts of the Apostles, the Martyrs and the Catacombs.

In times where evil is more than abundant, we Christians - who harbor no feelings of restlessness, despair and fear - are called upon to stand up against the instruments of injustice and to condemn all deceitfulness, through love and hope; by cultivating collaboration amongst ourselves and working for the greater good; by the safeguarding of peace in the world, by showing respect towards the human persona and attending to its material and spiritual needs, and by striving for the prevalence of evangelical values..."

During the ceremony, the Byzantine Chorus of the Apostoliki Diakonia's Boarding School Students chanted ecclesiastic hymns; also present were the Rev. Metropolitan of Italy Gennadios and the Hon. Consul of Greece in Venice, Mr. George Stylianopoulos.

During the departure from the Airport in Venice, an escort of the Italian Police Force and the Fire Brigade displayed their respect in a majestic and splendid way, evidencing that Saint Barbara is regarded as a patron saint in Italy.

The holy relic of the Great Martyr Saint Barbara will repose permanently in the Shrine of Saint Barbara, which belongs to the Apostoliki Diakonia and is situated in the Attica Municipality that bears her name, by His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, during the "door-opening" ceremony of the Holy Temple, to take place after completion of its overall renovation, in the month of October.