Response address by His Excellency Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis, Civil Governor of Mount Athos, Archon of the Great Church of Christ and of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, before the beginning of the vigil for the Nativity of the Honorable Forerunner, at Bigorski, on July 6, 2026.
Your Grace, Bishop of Antania, holy Abbot of the Sacred Monastery of the Honorable Forerunner, Kyr Partenij, bless!
Thank you very much for your kind words, but I would like to point out that the honor is mine to be here. For a very long time I had wished to come to your monastery, having heard so many exceptionally good things about you.
What should I mention first? The restoration from the ashes of this wonderful place? The exceptional woodcarvings of the iconostasis? The holy icon? Your spirituality and the way in which you guide the young?
May the Holy God keep you well, so that you may continue to offer and serve in this wonderful place.
I would like to say two things, holy Elder, and then I will conclude.
The first: I was impressed by the dignity, faith, and reverence of the faithful who are here in the church. And above all, by the way in which they express their love for you.
And the second: I was glad to see children from the Athoniada here, who came and spoke with me. We on Mount Athos are very proud of the children of the Athoniada who come from here, and we congratulate their parents for the wonderful beings they have brought into the world.
I am also glad, Elder, because I see here many monks, respected monks from Mount Athos. Therefore, we feel that we are now on Mount Athos. After all, you too are an Athonite.
In closing, I want to say this: when I am on the Holy Mountain, people ask me which monastery is my favorite, and I answer that all twenty monasteries are my favorites. From now on, I will say that twenty-one monasteries are my favorites, adding this holy Monastery here as well.
My Elder, your blessing. I love you very much!
