In a message of optimism and social support, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Aghia Varvara suburb of Athens on Holy Monday, declaring, “We’re going strong, we are taking the country ahead – the best is yet to come.”
His remarks came during a tour of a student dormitory operated by the Apostolic Ministry of the Church of Greece, accompanied by Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece.
The dormitory, home to 70 students from Greece and abroad who attend church or other educational institutions, served as a backdrop for the Prime Minister to praise the Church’s role in education and student welfare. Mitsotakis highlighted his government’s efforts to support students, emphasising the increase in rent subsidies and the plan to renovate aging dormitory infrastructure.
“Student housing must be improved”
Acknowledging the need for broader reform, the Prime Minister said the state is committed to expanding student housing, working in collaboration with the Church. “We’ve had several discussions with Education and Religious Affairs Minister Sophia Zacharaki,” he said, “and we’re exploring ways to utilise Church-owned land to build more facilities that serve young people in need.”
In that spirit, Archbishop Hieronymos announced that a new dormitory will be constructed on Alexandras Avenue, with groundwork set to begin in May.
Public-Private Partnership in Social Support
Mitsotakis also praised the role of private donors in supporting student housing projects, naming fashion designer Celia Kritharioti and shipping magnate Nikos Tsakos as key contributors. “It’s a shared mission,” the Prime Minister said, “where the state and private citizens come together to support the vulnerable.” He added that the government has doubled its funding to the Apostolic Ministry.
During the visit, the Prime Minister toured the facility, met with students, and listened to hymns and traditional songs performed by them.
Aid for People with Hearing Disabilities
A key part of the day’s message centred on inclusivity, as both the Prime Minister and the Archbishop referenced the government’s recent decision to grant a lifetime supplement to individuals aged 18 to 65 with hearing impairments.
Archbishop Hieronymos, who has worked closely with the hearing-impaired community since his youth, praised the initiative. “Families with multiple members facing hearing and speech difficulties were often left behind. This supplement is not just financial support – it’s a recognition of their daily challenges,” he said.
Mitsotakis credited the Archbishop with bringing the issue to his personal attention. “This was a longstanding injustice that is now being corrected,” he said.
Support for Patriarchates Abroad
Government sources also confirmed the allocation of 600 new positions for clerics serving in ancient patriarchates and at the historic Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai – a move described as unprecedented in scale. Mitsotakis noted that resolving the monastery’s legal status enabled the state to offer practical support for religious missions in remote and often challenging parts of the world, including Africa.
Wrapping up his visit, Prime Minister Mitsotakis addressed local residents with a message of hope and perseverance: “Despite the difficulties, we’re pushing forward. Let me wish you all a blessed Easter – and remember, the best is yet to come.”
The visit underscored the government’s intent to work closely with the Church and civil society in addressing key social issues – from education and housing to inclusivity and international religious outreach.