A blessing ceremony was held on Sunday at the small harbor of Dafni, on Mount Athos, on the occasion of the delivery of a new Hellenic coast guard patrol boat, whose acquisition was funded by the Union of Greek Shipowners.
In a statement during the ceremony, relevant Shipping and Island Policy Minister Yannis Plakiotakis referred to the deep-rooted respect by the Greek government for the beacon of Orthodoxy, Mount Athos, a sentiment he said is accompanied by actions that boost the security and protection of the semi-autonomous monastic community, and the pilgrims that annually visit the peninsula.
