“there is no greater honour than for his child to become a priest, because this means that his life within the family proved worthy in the eyes of his children.

“It is a modest and humble church that reflects the first steps of the early Greeks, I would like this church to remain as it is, because it demonstrates that a people came here who were poor and humble, yet honourable. As time passed, our people progressed, but this church—one of the first to meet the needs of the great wave of migration—reflects our earliest steps and constitutes a historical and spiritual landmark.

“he also encouraged the faithful to pray to the Theotokos with trust, confident that she knows human suffering and understands their concerns

“Through her translation to heaven, the Theotokos always remains close to every person and accompanies them in their trials

“the Dormition is a celebration of hope, consolation, and joy