The Patron Saints Protecting Greece’s Armed Forces

The patron saint for the Greek infantry is Saint George. March 25th parade successful Athens. Credit: Skylax 30 Wikipedia                CC BY-SA 4.0

Each Greek equipped unit has its ain patron saint, indicating that the instauration of the modern Greek State is profoundly rooted successful the Orthodox Church.

The 1821 Greek War of Independence began with the blessings and proclamation of Germanos III of Old Patras, the Orthodox Metropolitan of Patras. According to tradition, the gyration against Ottoman regularisation began connected the Feast of Annunciation. From the precise archetypal moment, the 1821 uprising was linked to the blessing of the Church.

The Holy Cross was the awesome connected the archetypal makeshift emblem of the revolution, cementing the unbroken enslaved betwixt Greek Orthodoxy and the rebels. Subsequently, it besides sealed the enslaved of the Church with the soon-to-be-formed Greek state. Since then, the Church has been progressive successful governmental and societal events galore times, demonstrating the dependence of the wide authorities connected the institution.

After the commencement of modern Greece, pursuing the palmy 1821 revolt, the rebels and their leaders, including Theodoros Kolokotronis and Konstantinos Kanaris, became portion of the recently formed authoritative Greek equipped forces.

Given the beardown ties of the Greek authorities to the Church, each subdivision of the equipped forces has a Greek Orthodox patron saint. Likewise, the Hellenic Police has its own.

Saint George, patron saint of the Greek infantry, slays the dragon by Raphael (crop) Credit: Public Domain

Saint George: Patron saint of the Greek Infantry

The lad of a rich, aristocratic household from Cappadocia successful Asia Minor, it is said Agios Georgios was an serviceman successful the Roman army, and helium was executed due to the fact that helium refused to renounce his Christian faith.

His acts and martyrdom are believed to person been carried retired during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian. He is commemorated doubly a year. The archetypal time is connected April 23rd. This is the time helium was beheaded successful 303 AD. Alternatively, arsenic per the Julian calendar, if the time falls earlier Resurrection, it is moved to Easter Monday. He is besides commemorated connected November 3rd, the time of the gathering of his remains.

Saint George, arsenic the trophy bearer and liberator, is revered for his exploits, the astir important of each being the slaying of the dragon to prevention the girl of the king.

According to tradition, the beast guarded the h2o of a outpouring successful Libya and would not let radical to portion unless it was offered to a chap citizen. For galore years, locals determined by batch the unfortunate of the dragon. Entire armies opposed the monster to nary avail. The batch besides fell to the princess, who was saved by Saint George, the young serviceman connected horseback who killed the dragon with his spear.

Saint George is the patron of armies and countries. Because of his beingness successful the army, helium was established arsenic the patron saint of the infantry and Greek service by royal decree successful 1983. He is besides the patron saint of England and the Crusaders, who brought his relic from Palestine to the West, arsenic good arsenic the Boy Scouts.

Moreover, Saint George is celebrated arsenic a saint of the Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, Lutheran, and Armenian Churches, arsenic good arsenic the patron Saint of the Christians of Palestine, Beirut, Georgia, and the Bulgarian army.

Agios Nikolaos is the patron saint of the Greek Navy, Credit: Nikoskpa Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Saint Nikolaos: Patron saint of the Hellenic Navy

Through Royal Decree successful 1901, Agios Nikolaos officially became the patron saint of the Greek Navy, the Merchant Navy, and aboriginal the Coast Guard.

He is simply a saint who, for the faithful passim time, has been the protector of the poor, children, and, supra all, radical of the sea.

He was calved connected March 15, 270, and lived until December 6, 343. It seems helium was calved successful Patara, Lycia, located successful Asia Minor, and became an orphan astatine a young age. He had nary siblings and followed the priesthood, being ordained by Bishop Nikolaos, who was his uncle.

Later, helium was elected Metropolitan of Myron of Lycia. During Diocletian’s reign, helium was tortured, and, aft being released from prison, helium returned to the episcopal throne erstwhile Constantine the Great took implicit arsenic emperor. During his priesthood, helium performed respective miracles.

He is revered by some the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, and helium is the patron saint of respective cities.

Archangel Michael: The winged protector of the Greek Air Force

On June 11, 1954, Archangel Michael was established arsenic the patron saint of the Greek Air Force. Since then, the feast of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel connected November 8th is the authoritative aviation holiday. It is celebrated with large pomp successful each Air Force units.

Archangel Michael is an angel, created arsenic an invisible and cleanable spirit, which is not constricted by clip oregon space. In addition, helium is the lone 1 who is called an Archangel, according to the Holy Bible, arsenic good arsenic “one of the archetypal lords” and “archons.” His sanction means “he who is similar God.”

Michael is an angel who appears successful the Old Testament. Lucifer, whose sanction means “he who brings light”—the highest presumption successful created perfection—led a tiny radical of rebellious angels (later demons), who aimed to disobey the orders of God. They rebelled.

At that moment, Archangel Michael assumed an important relation successful the suppression of Lucifer’s rebellion, frankincense earning the rubric of Archangel. He was the 1 who announced to Abraham the request to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It was besides helium who led the radical of Israel erstwhile fleeing from Egypt.

In the New Testament, Archangel Michael is the 1 who announces the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the rapture of His Church. He is besides contiguous successful Joshua, the autumn of Jericho, arsenic good arsenic successful the stories of Emmanuel, David, and Elijah. He ever holds a sword, which gives fiery punishment to God’s enemies.

Furthermore, we spot him successful the descent of Christ to Hades, arsenic good arsenic successful John’s Apocalypse, where, arsenic the caput of the Angels, helium fights Satan.

Saint Barbara: Patron of the Greek Artillery

Saint Barbara was established arsenic the patron saint of the Greek Artillery successful 1829 and connected the 4th of December of the aforesaid year. An authoritative solemnisation took spot successful Nafplio. This was the superior of Greece close aft the liberation from the Ottomans.

The young saint lived, was tortured, and died during Emperor Maximilian’s regularisation successful the 3rd century. She was the lone girl of the affluent Greek idolater Dioskouros, who was the satrap of Nicomedia. In spite of the fanatic idolaters of her commencement environment, Saint Barbara was enlightened by the Bible’s information and, portion inactive young, she embraced Christianity.

This caused her father’s anger, and helium utilized each imaginable means to dissuade her—even torture. However, erstwhile she showed her arrogant and adamant attitude, helium surrendered her to the Roman commandant of the state to punish her. The commandant was impressed by the quality of the young woman and tried to bring her backmost to idolatry. When she showed her irrevocable determination not to contradict Christ, helium submitted her to horrible torture. That was the crushed she was named Great Martyr.

Finally, she was beheaded by her ain father’s sword, arsenic her biographer Simon wrote. According to the tradition, portion her begetter was leaving his daughter’s spot of slaughter, Holy Justice burned the executioner begetter with a thunderbolt. The artillery occurrence symbolizes that punishing thunderbolt.

Saint Artemios, protector of the Greek police. Hagiography by Manuel Panselinos (crop). Public Domain

Saint Artemios: Protector of Greek Police

The Greek constabulary (EL.AS) has its ain patron saint arsenic well, namely Agios Artemios. The Presidential Decree 398/1987 recognized the Great Martyr Artemios arsenic the protector of the force. October 20th, the time helium is commemorated, became an authoritative vacation of the Hellenic Police.

On October 20th, with spiritual zeal, Greek policemen grant the representation of their patron saint, large martyr, and occurrence worker, Saint Artemios.

Saint Artemios lived successful the 4th century. He was characterized by his heavy Christian faith, beardown will, and rigid intelligence fortitude. He worked with passionateness for peace, prosperity, freedom, and information of citizens without concessions and compromises. In appreciation of his morals and virtues, Constantine the Great appointed Saint Artemios Superior Commander successful assorted regions of the Byzantine Empire. He held the offices of Duke and Augustal with the duties of General Police Director.

His enactment was akin to that of the modern constabulary officer. Saint Artemios worked with zeal and dedication for the bid and information of citizens. Wherever helium served, helium proved worthy of the spot placed successful him and offered invaluable and conscionable services.

His faith, bravery, and courageous absorption to the illegitimacy of Emperor Julian the Apostate, who wanted to abolish the Christian religion by force, resulted successful his deposition, torture, and martyrdom.

With his cognition successful life, devotion to protecting and serving, and his martyrdom, Saint Artemios became a exemplary for each constabulary officer.