The Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis Attends the Official Celebration in Memory of Aghia Varbara, Patron Saint of the Artillery

The Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis Attends the Official Celebration in Memory of Aghia Varbara, Patron Saint of the Artillery

December 4, 2025

The Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis, representing the President of the Hellenic Government Kyriakos Mitsotakis, attended the official celebration in Memory of Aghia Varbara, Patron Saint of the Artillery, which took place on Thursday, 04 December 2025, at the Artillery School, in Nea Peramos.

The Deputy Minister was welcomed by the Chief/HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, the Inspector General of the Army-Deputy Chief/HAGS Lieutenant General Andreas Koronakis, representing the Chief/HAGS, the Director of HAGS/Artillery Brigadier General Pavlos Andrikopoulos and the Commandant of the Artillery School Colonel (ARTY) Georgios Nellas.

The ceremony was also attended by the Commander Ioannis Kantzelas HN, representing the President of the Republic, the MP of the New Democracy Party in Attica Athanasios Bouras, representing the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Georgios Kotsiras, the MP of the Communist Party of Greece Christos Katsotis, representing the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Greece, Rear Admiral Spyridon Lagaras HN, representing the Chief/HNGS, Lieutenant General Ioannis Kotsakis, representing the Chief/HAFGS, representatives of the Local Self-government, general and senior officers of the Armed and Security Forces and retired Officers of the Armed Forces.

Upon conclusion of the doxology, Mr Davakis laid a wreath at the Memorial of the Fallen Unknown Gunner and observed a short demonstration of Artillery weapon systems.

Upon conclusion of the event, Mr Davakis stated:

"I am honoured to be today at the Artillery School, where we honour Aghia Varvara, the Patron Saint of the Arm, with long and glorious history in defending our country. Since the Balkan Wars, where the marksmanship and the coordination of the batteries opened the road for the great victories of our Army, until the Epic of '40, when our gunners, in extremely adverse conditions, overturned the numerically superior forces of the Italians and wrote glorious pages of bravery, the Artillery has constantly projected its strategic importance during war.

This tradition continues without interruption until today. The modern Artillery, fully upgraded and adjusted to the requirements of the current operational environment, is a force of high effectiveness and a crucial force-multiplier for the deterrent capability of the Armed Forces.

I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the women and men of the Artillery, who serve it with professionalism, high specialisation and devotion. They honour not only the history of the Artillery, but its solid mission to defend our Country as well.

Many happy returns!"