Medical Inter-Balkan Thessaloniki: Emotion and splendor at the Opening of the Holy Chapel of St. George by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
In a climate of deep devotion and emotion, in the presence of distinguished guests, the Opening Ceremony of the Holy Chapel of Saint George, which is located in the surroundings of the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki and the International Oncology Center, took place on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
The Opening Ceremony was performed by His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew, while His All-Holiness Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Mr. Philotheos, His Eminence Metropolitan of Forty Churches, Mr. Andreas, the Great Ecclesiarch, Mr. Aetios, the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Xenophon of Mount Athos, Archimandrite Mr. Alexios, the Deacon Father Photios, as well as Venerable Fathers participated in the prayer. Particularly honorable was the presence of the Most Honorable Archons, Mr. Athanasios Martinos, President and George Prokopios, Vice-President, of the Brotherhood of Officials of the Ecumenical Throne “Virgin Mary the Pammakaristos” and the Political Governor of Mount Athos and Honorary Chief of the General Staff, Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis.
Image 1: The Thyranoixia ceremony of the Holy Chapel of St. George, under His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew, in the surrounding area of the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki and the International Oncology Center.
Present were representatives of the Government, local government and the business community, including the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Marios Themistokleous, the Deputy Minister of Interior responsible for Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. Konstantinos Gkoulekas, the Deputy Minister of Innovation and Development, Mr. Stavros Kalafatis, the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Nikos Papaioannou, the President of the Panhellenic Medical Association, Dr. Athanasios Exadaktylos, Mayors, Commanders of the Hellenic Police, academics of the International University of Greece, doctors of the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki, as well as the entire Administration and executives of the Athens Medical Group.
As part of the ceremony, the Ecumenical Patriarch proceeded to place the commemorative plaque on the exterior of the Holy Chapel, thus sealing the spiritual and symbolic character of the day.
Image 2: The Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew
For his part, the President of the Athens Medical Group, Dr. Vasilios G. Apostolopoulos, warmly thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch for the special honor, stating: “The presence and blessing of His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the inauguration of the Holy Chapel of Saint George at the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki is a supreme honor for all of us and fills us with emotion. The Holy Chapel of Saint George bears the name of my father and Founder of our Group, Dr. George V. Apostolopoulos, who, with the establishment of the Group 41 years ago, offered relief and healing to millions of our fellow citizens. Saint George is the ‘doctor of the sick’ saint of our Orthodoxy and this Chapel was created as a place of prayer, support and comfort for patients, their families and our staff, within a modern hospital environment, where medical science coexists with man and his spiritual needs. We thank His Holiness from the bottom of our hearts for his blessing and presence, which constitute for all of us a source of strength, hope and inspiration for the continuation of our work.”.
Image 3: From left, His Holiness Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Mr. Philotheos, the Honorary President of the Athens Medical Group, Dr. George V. Apostolopoulos, the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew, the President of the Athens Medical Group, Dr. Vasilis G. Apostolopoulos, the CEO of the Athens Medical Group Mr. Christos G. Apostolopoulos
His All Holiness, during his address, pointed out: “With great joy we celebrated today the official inauguration of the beautiful Holy Chapel, which was rebuilt from the ground up with the care of you and your families and associates, for the sanctification and strengthening of our suffering fellow human beings, but also for the blessing of all the staff, administrative, medical and nursing. The Mother Church of Constantinople, through its Primate, congratulates you and expresses its satisfaction for this initiative of yours, but also for your philanthropic work in general.”.
Image 4: The President of the Athens Medical Group, Dr. Vasilis G. Apostolopoulos with the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew
Reference to the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki, the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew, noted: “We admire the imposing building of the Inter-Balkan Medical Center, which, as we are informed, meets all modern environmental standards. It has deservedly and rightfully earned the trust of the people of Thessaloniki and the wider regions of Macedonia and Thrace, as well as our fellow sick people from neighboring countries. We appreciate the fact that this hospital is inextricably linked in a continuous dialogue with the newly inaugurated hospital for souls, the Holy Church of St. George. We therefore pray that the Savior of the world, Christ, on the one hand, will grant mental and physical health to all hospitalized patients and support their families, and on the other hand, will strengthen the medical and nursing staff in their multidimensional, multi-responsible and blessed work.».
Image 5: The Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew during the placement of the commemorative plaque on the exterior of the Holy Chapel of St. George, in the presence of the President of the Athens Medical Group, Dr. Vasilis G. Apostolopoulos.
