The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended the formal celebrations of the Patron Saint of the Hellenic Navy, St. Nicolas, at the Hellenic Navy Academy

The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended the formal celebrations of the Patron Saint of the Hellenic Navy, St. Nicolas, at the Hellenic Navy Academy

December 6, 2025

The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, as representative of the President of the Government, attended the formal celebrations of the Patron Saint of the Hellenic Navy, St. Nicolas that were held on Saturday 6 December 2025 at the Hellenic Navy Academy in Piraeus.

After the end of the celebration and the doxology officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphimof Piraeus, Mr. Dendias made the following statement:

"Today, we are celebrating the memory of St. Nicolas, the Patron Saint of all sailors, our Navy, and our enormous merchant marine fleet.

We are also honouring the anniversary of our victorious naval battles during the Balkan Wars. Those battles established Greek sovereignty in the Aegean Sea.

I am not telling you anything new when I say that the sea is for Hellenism our natural habitat and our Navy is the guarantor of our sovereignty and out sovereign rights. Those sovereign rights we have under International Law and the Law of the Sea.

The "Agenda 2030" we are implementing, provides for a powerful and modern Hellenic Navy; the most powerful and the most modern Hellenic Navy in the long history of Greece. It also provides for a holistic concept for the country, through the "Achilles Shield".

A Navy is thus created with very strong deterrent capabilities. A Navy that will not remain confined to the need for territorial defence of our seas, but will be able to operate more broadly as a deterrent force against the dangers that threaten our homeland.

The Hellenic Navy will protect the interests of Greece, the interests of Europe. Without, however, ever questioning the legitimate rights of other countries in the region.

We always comply with the rules of International Law; we always comply with the provisions of UNCLOS, the International Convention on the Law of the Sea. But at the same time, we have an obligation to strengthen and reinforce our Navy. And we are doing so by what has been announced for our major platforms, which the HNGS Chief Admiral Kataras outlined a short while ago in his order of the day, and moreover, by introducing the use of autonomous vehicles in the air, at sea and under the sea into the Navy. And also, by new means of Communication and Management, by modern Command and Control.

And all of this is not theoretical analysis and aspiration; it is something that can be achieved in a measurable way.

In a few days, on December 18^th, the Greek flag will be raised on the first Belharra frigate we are receiving, "KIMON". This is an emblematic moment for the Greek Fleet, because it is visible that it is changing and becoming stronger.

But there is something else that I think we should take into account, which is that the main factor of power is not the systems, but the women and men of our Navy. And we must support them above all else, if we want our Navy to remain combat-ready.

With the salary increases that are about to be voted on by the Greek Parliament, as well as the other social protection measures that I have already announced, a different reality is gradually being created for the personnel of the Hellenic Navy.

Concluding, I would like to express my gratitude to the women and men of the Hellenic Navy, the Coast Guard, the ever-sailing Greek Merchant Navy, and Greek Coastal Shipping, as well as to those who support them in their work and efforts, namely the families of our seamen, my warmest wishes today, on Saint Nicolas Day.

May Saint Nicolas protect the seas, protect the Fleet, and protect Greece!"

The event was attended by the MP Nikolaos Vlachakos, as representative of the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, MPs Sofia Voultepsi, Ioannis Tragakis, Dionysis Chatzidakis, Evangelos Apostolakis, and Nikolaos Ambatielos, as well as parties' representatives.

On behalf of military leadership the event was honoured with the presence of the Chief HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios - Eleftherios Kataras, and the Chief HAFGS Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis.

The event was also attended by the Chief of Hellenic Coast Guard Vice Admiral Tryfon Kontizas, the Deputy Regional Governor of Piraeus Stavros Voidonikolas, the Mayor of Piraeus Giannis Moralis, the Mayor of Palaio Faliro Ioannis Fostiropoulos, His Grace Bishop Niphon of Acheloos, representatives of the Chiefs of the Hellenic Police and the Fire Department.

Also present were members of the Supreme Navy Council, Honorary Chiefs HNGS, the Chairman of Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation Rear Admiral (ret.) Panos Laskaridis, as well as representatives of Authorities, Chambers, Associations, and local institutions.

The event was also attended by the Ambassador of Egypt in Greece Omar Amer Youssefand many Defence Attachés of foreign countries.