In the sanctuary of Metropolitan Dorotheos!

For the majority of its visitors, Mykonos is an island of intense entertainment and wild nightlife. This characteristic of hers indeed (combined with the sun and the sea) has turned it into a global destination and attraction for tens of thousands of tourists every year from all over the world. For one man Nevertheless constitutes the… his resting place. Is the island, where he rests, it is meditated upon and stimulated mentally and physically to carry out the difficult task he has undertaken for the last twelve years in our islands……

The reason for the Metropolitan of Syros Mr. Dorotheos II, who in the place where he was born and raised has created his own personal space, "The heavenly neighbor" as he has called it.

It is a simple house, built high, With magnificent views and intense island features. Right next to there is a small chapel where the Metropolitan prays and is "isolated" when he feels the need to do so.

His Holiness besides his home, He also opened his heart to an interview that talked about many and various issues. Man with strong personality and flawless handling of language, He manages to "win" his interlocutor.

From 2002 leads the Metropolitan of Syros, proving that either with buns, either with storms, he is a good "captain" and knows how to command the ship in an extremely difficult situation, due to its special nature, prefecture.

Although several years have passed since the assumption of his duties, however, the day when his election to the Metropolis was announced remains deeply etched in his mind and heart.

“It was a historic moment for my life when the result was announced, December 14th of 2001. On the one hand, it was the confirmation of my previous 25-year tenure as a preacher and on the other hand, the starting point of a new ministry with a very great responsibility towards God and people." he emphasized, while for the rest of the moments that have marked him in his many years of service in the Diocese, he emphasized: "I cannot help but remember the reception of the people when I came to Syros as Metropolitan, but also the fact that the first person who welcomed me and hugged me was the Catholic Bishop Francis. Similar were the events to my humble face and in the other islands of the Metropolis. Events that are just as intense and so far still. I still remember the inauguration of many of our activities such as our kindergarten, of our kindergarten, of the radio station, of the camps, but also the ordination of new clergy. But there were also some moments that were not the best and I would have preferred that they had not come."

-How would you characterize your mission given the geographical specificity of our county;

"It is an extremely difficult one, since it is the most Polynesian Metropolis worldwide. Nowhere else in the world is there a Metropolis that includes twelve islands. Therefore, it is difficult to exercise pastoral responsibility. The sea and transport are a problem in our movements, but the will of man does the hard work, easily. So I am trying, exhausting all my physical and mental powers, to navigate our Metropolis."

-Ten years ago, in an interview with the "Archipelagos" newspaper, you said that "My home is the fishermen's nets". You still hold this view; Something has changed since then;

“I continue to maintain that my home is the fishermen's nets, but I dare say that after 37 years of ministry in the same Diocese, my pillow is the waves of the sea, because I never sleep at home, I never stay in one place. The days I stay in the Episcopate are few, where my headquarters is. I am constantly a traveling sailor, regardless of whether as Metropolitan I should have been the captain. I feel that Christ is the captain of the ship and I am a simple sailor who continues to sleep in the fishermen's nets and have the waves of the sea as his pillow."

-How prone to foreign challenges the people of the Cyclades are, in the sense that it has intense contact with foreign peoples. The role of the church who should be;

"We must see all the issues in our life with realism. It would be utopia to say that this people who, especially in the summer, come into contact with all the peoples of the world, remains unaffected by challenges. Clearly the stimuli are many and people cannot become granite stones and not feel anything. But what I have to testify is that our people in the midst of all this horde of challenges maintains its identity, cultural and spiritual. You will see that in our islands the traditions and customs, they are not just immovable but increasing. This means that the people are standing alone against the challenges. The responsibility of the Church is very great and really all our priests work to the best of their ability to keep the traditions alive. I must say that Mykonos especially, which receives the most challenges from’ all islands is an answer to your question. The people here despite any deviations resist something that is credited to the clergy, whom I thank for their work."

-What a connection it can be (and if you have to) to have the Church with politics;

"This issue was constantly brought up to Archbishop Christodoulos, who was accused of making political rather than ecclesiastical reasons. But he said (something that the current Archbishop also says) that the Church addresses every citizen and in this sense can have a political voice. Not to interfere in politics, but to talk about what is related to the needs of the citizen. So he is accused, The reason of the Church must be loud when it concerns citizen problems. Of course, we live in a country where the state and the Church go hand in hand and everyone recognizes the latter 4-5 years if the social fabric has not been torn apart it is because the Church has kept it. I even think that once again the Church has proven how strong and composed it is in order to face difficult situations and relieve the world of its problems."

-On the same topic, in the last municipal elections in Syros, some tried to polarize the climate by giving it a religious dimension. What is your opinion on the matter?;

-Many times it was called with mentions of my name in the municipal elections of Syros. Sometimes I even got angry, but with the advice and help of my colleagues I calmed down and decided not to bother with the matter at all. However, my name was artificially used by some who wanted to benefit. All I have to say is’ of this is that if I say what I want, some will hide and some will be ashamed.”

-Your Honor we have seen many times, at various events in Syros, be next to the Catholic Bishop. What is the message with this attitude of yours to the people of Syros?, but also of the rest of Greece who do not know what it means for Orthodox and Catholics to live together on an island;

"I will not only speak for myself but also for the Catholic Bishop Francis with whom I traveled and who recently left. So together we wanted to give a message of unity and love, since we live in a small society where dividing lines are always very damaging. So my presence next to Bishop Francis, whom I honor and love, I wanted to signal, that we can see what unites us and multiply them for the sake of our people and not let whatever differences exist confront us. I think this has been achieved in Syros, despite the fact that both I and the Catholic Bishop have heard negative reviews, which came from extreme pietists outside Syros, who consider that speaking with the Catholic Bishop is a betrayal of your faith. I think I'm doing the right thing and I really don't care what anyone says or writes. Bigotry and intolerance must be outside the Church.”

-Let's move on to today's financial crisis. How difficult this situation has made the work of the Metropolis; 

"It has made it very difficult because of the high taxes we have been obliged to pay in recent years. The State, it deprives us of a large part of the income we have from the contributions to the Monasteries. Some of them are forced to sell estates to pay the taxes without even having corresponding income . The Church was never tax free. He always gave to the State, which with lies and promises reaped part of her fortune. As for the so-called suspension of payroll, well done, but then to return to the Church the property that the State has taken from it with the commitment of the payroll. Regarding the work of our Metropolis, has been greatly hampered by heavy taxation. Despite this, fortunately there are still people with the financial ability to respond to our requests and support us."

-What exactly is the Metropolis of Syros doing to at least "relieve" the difficulties faced by the Cyclades; 

"We established the program "we are a family". So we gathered data on families that had reached a point of question. They were recorded 360 families in 12 islands of our Metropolis with the largest part located in Syros. Each 20-25 days we give a package of food with what is necessary for them. Helping us in this effort is the Shipowners' Association which, after asking us to check the data we had gathered, undertook to feed the families with many and three children who from the 360 are the 101. In addition to this program we have the student allowances. This year we gave you 44 students from 600 euro. We also have contracts with pharmacies on the islands where we pay the participation of those who cannot do so. There is also the fund that supports schools by giving students food, while we also support various student events. These and more (as far as possible) the Diocese does and for that I must congratulate the staff, who, although they are few in number, carry a very large burden and perform a great work. Personally, I am particularly helped by,they accomplish what is assigned to them. Among our helpers is the Holy Foundation of Panagia of Tinos, which gives every year the 2% of revenue, which relieve us of our expenses."

-In conclusion, let's go to something more personal. How much a Metropolitan needs his hermitage;

"As big as you can't imagine. He sometimes wants to calm down and be quiet. Not to ring his phone every five minutes and his doorbell every quarter. Everything I do, I do it gladly anyway. Of course, there are times when you get tired, but I don't want to not answer or not accept someone. I think that when someone calls you or comes to your door, no matter what he tells you you have to talk to him. So I need this… sanctuary even at home in Syros. To find myself alone to think and make a self-criticism, which I do quite often. I want to be on mental alert for any omissions. Anyway, the house that comforts me is here in Mykonos with a greater gift of God this view that can't even be bought, nor is it for sale. It calms me down, it relaxes me and allows me to recharge my batteries. In addition, it "travels" me and gives me the feeling that I have the creator God in front of me…”

Source: Syrosnews
NewsRoom Mykonos Ticker