The Metropolitan of Syros and Mykonos Mr. Dorotheos B.’
A special characteristic of the Greek peculiarity is the existence of Benefactors in every period of its turbulent and at the same time majestic history..
Specifically, beneficence as a practical manifestation of support for the sufferer and the poor fellow human being or of help and understanding ……….
to the needs of organized society, it was initially instituted in Ancient Athens with the so-called "liturgies" and expanded in the Hellenistic years, in which the name of the Hellenistic Rulers of Egypt is accompanied by adjectives, such as Benefactor, Philanthropist, Savior..
Christianity upgraded this social virtue, highlighting its spiritual dimension. The citizen no longer acts for his fellow citizens, but the Christian for every fellow man his brother. And he does not do this to be considered a good citizen of the Athenian democracy, but to be considered a child of God and to emerge as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom .
In the spirit of Christianity inspired, the so-called National Benefactors continued, in the younger years, this ancient tradition of giving to the whole., as evidenced by their Testaments.
Michael Tositsas, for example, one of the greatest benefactors of his time, begins his will as follows: "desires against Christian and social duty ...." , while Nikolaos Zosimas, that great benefactor, notes verbatim that "… I decided on my own and I chose my own opinion, by my present Testament, I decree to all the descendants of my blessed Autadelphians a common and undivided property, we have been blessed by the infinite mercy of the all-good God, yet I live in vain, through our own toil and sweat … I see His divine goodness, to guide me order her kat’ pleasure of His Most Holy Will …».
From the study of the wills it is readily apparent that the benefactors believed that the goods, which they acquired with so much sacrifice and effort, they did not belong exclusively to themselves, but that god commanded them as their stewards.
And because they believe it is a way of life and not an ideology for the members of the Church, they offer sacrificially and cheerfully to alleviate the poverty of fellow human beings – of their brothers, the unhappiness, pain and illiteracy..
So, dispose of their assets for good purposes, without any state authority imposing it on them. They benefit with distinction, without seeking ephemeral glory and honor, without seeking to dominate the beneficiaries.
Their memory remains ageless in collective remembrance and their example seeks imitators, especially in these difficult and difficult days…
And there are not a few who, with bitterness and disappointment, they find that such majestic figures are missing today, that will contribute to the recovery of our country and the support of our People.
And it is a fact that, nowadays, national benefactors, by the standards of earlier times they do not exist, and it is not possible for them to exist, as social facts changed and conditions changed.
Today, there may be no National Benefactors, there are, Nevertheless, Social. And as individuals, but, more, in the form of Institutions, whose contribution is equally important, but invisible and subtle, perhaps because it spreads over multiple social welfare actions, covering the entire Greek territory.
Such as, for example, the "Stavros Niarchos Foundation", which offers a total of the amount of 100 million euros, to finance social welfare and health care actions and programs, for the immediate relief of vulnerable groups (newly homeless, newly poor, unemployed Mr. etc.) but also for the education of the younger generations, as prevention and investment in the future of Greece.
Alongside, the Union of Greek Shipowners, quietly supplies food and other essentials, Ι. Metropolises and Charity Shops, while financing health trips of the "Doctors of the World" Organization, whose members carry out free medical examinations of residents of mountainous or island regions.
It's worth it, also, to highlight the activity of the Medical Association of Athens,who in collaboration with M.K.O. By I. Archdiocese of Athens "APOSTOLI" , collects and distributes medical and nursing material to Hospitals and Regional Clinics, as well as the program of the radio and TV station "SKAI" "Together we can".
It can, Well, it seems that the National Benefactors have been missing, in their place,Nevertheless, the Socials have appeared, Collective Benefactors.
Perhaps, in fact, let this finding be a ray of light and a source of hope in the darkness of pessimism that surrounds and surrounds our society.
The endless and multiple impasses activate the springs of our national memory and soul and lead us, imperceptibly, maybe, in a change of way of thinking and life!
From the dominance of "I" we are gradually moving towards the experience of "we", we realize the importance and dynamics of collective effort and joining together to overcome problems, difficulties and impasses, to prove once again that "the communities of the Greeks make another galaxy"!
† DOROTHEOS B. OF SYRUS and MYKONOS’
(Magazine "POLITICAL ITEMS", τ. 61, Nov 2013)