Bucharest, July 27, 2018
Photo: lastampa.it The Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate is joining in the effort to support the unfortunate victims of the wildfires that have ravaged Greece this week.
As the Romanian Church’s Basilica News Agency reports, the patriarchate is urging all of its dioceses to offer financial support to the victims of the tragedy in Greece.
The Church’s press release reads: “As a token of brotherly communion and solidarity, the Romanian Patriarchate urges all its Dioceses at home and abroad to financially support, according to their possibilities, the victims of the catastrophic wildfires that took place in recent days in Greece.”
To this aim, the Romanian Church has opened three bank accounts for receiving donations in three different currencies:
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Romanian Leu – RO54 RNCB 0075 0048 9503 0091, BCR SECTOR 4 Bucharest
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Euro – RO27 RNCB 0075 0048 9503 0092, BCR SECTOR 4 Bucharest
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US dollars – RO97 RNCB 0075 0048 9503 0093, BCR SECTOR 4 Bucharest
All funds collected will be sent to the Archdiocese of Athens of the Greek Orthodox to support the injured, the bereaved, and those who have become homeless due to the fires.
Of course, the Greek Orthodox Church has its own efforts to help its suffering flock. As previously reported, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens has ordered that the Archdiocese of Athens’ charitable organization “Apostoli” at the disposal of state and local governments.
As Manolis Papamikrulis, an official of the Greek Orthodox Church for the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Holy Synod and the Commission for Inter-Christian Relations, reported in an interview with Vatican Insider, Abp. Ieronymos was awoken at night during a spiritual retreat with news of the wildfires and immediately contacted the metropolitans of the affected areas. At his orders, Apostoli has sent 100s of volunteers and operators to help the fire fighters and rescuers.
Apostoli has also provided basic necessities such as food and clothing and is helping to clear the streets of debris and restore electricity. Priests have also been sent to offer spiritual guidance to the victims and their families. Apostoli has also opened its premises to accommodate those who have lost their homes.
“Everyone has shown that they are ready to help us and we are optimistic that we will be able to move forward,” Papamikrulis exclaimed.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has also written an encyclical asking the clergy to hold a prayer service this coming Sunday for all of the suffering victims and a memorial service for those who have perished. He also asked all the parishes to take a special collection the following two Sundays to alleviate the suffering in Greece and help those who have lost their home and livelihoods.
Donations can be sent payable to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America at 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075 with a memo indicating Attica Fires Relief Fund.
Donations can also be made at the site of The Hellenic Initiative, an organization dedicated to providing direct crisis relief to the people of Greece.
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