The Greek Atheists’ Union slams the expense of flying the “Holy Light” from Jerusalem to Athens at Easter. In a letter to all ministers in charge – finance, foreign, defense and religion – the Union questions the necessity to bring the Holy Light to Greece at a time of economic suffering, describing the tranport with a state jet and a public officials delegation as a “not necessary luxury”.
“In a time when taxpayers Greeks are experiencing cuts in wages and pensions, a severe taxation, unemployment and compression of real income, we consider unthinkable that the Greek State and therefore the Greek taxpayers give even one euro for the transfer of the supposed “Holy Light,” a Union press release stressed.
The Union stressed that a private sponsor had come up for the transfer of the Holy Light form 1988 to 2000, and that from 2002 onwards the state pays a lot of money.
“Is there still money for the transfer of lamps and the welcome ceremony as if it was a state leader?” the Union asks.
The Atheists request information about the cost of the transfer of the Holy Light as well as its distribution via airplanes to churches across the country, the accommodation and other expenses for the accompanying delegation, the expenses for the military personnel, the events and whatever accompanies the arrival and distribution in Greece.
Arrival of Holy light at Athens airport
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem assured that the “Holy Light” will travel to Greece also this year. Patriarchate spokesman Giorgos Vasileiou said :
“To the Atheists’ Union claim that the Holy Light should not travel to Greece, I have to say that their approach seals the fact that only the people of the darkness are afraid of the Light and I assure them that despite their opposition, the Holy Light will come this year in our country.”
No, the spokesman did not even slightly hint that the Patriarchate of Jerusalem or the Church of Greece could eventually come up for the cost of the Holy Light airborne to Greece.
Video: Holy Light arriving Easter Saturday at Athens Airport 2014
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PS it will be the first time that a government of leftist atheists will pay for the miracle of Holy Light to Greece. But ooops! They have a faithful coalition partner named Independent Greeks
Solution is easy. Let the Greek Orthodox church pay for it; after all it’s a Religious Celebration and we all know that they have plenty of money & sharing very little of it with the needy!!
I AM NOT AN ATHEIST BUT I AGREE WITH THE ATHIEST UNION
THEY COULD HAVE BROUGHT IT OVER ON A DOMESTIC ECONOMY FLIGHT
IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT GOD IS NOT IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WITH POWER & MONEY
Xmas Mass at the Vatican on TV was pomp, ceremony & regalis in extravigant form.
What a truely magnificent offering to God.
Outside there is someone searching through a rubbish bin for food.
All this in the sight of God.
Somehow I don’t think that this is what God had in mind.
Somehow I think that we have got it horribly wrong.
p.s. GREECE HAS NOT GOT THE MONEY TO MAKE A PAYMENT
Just a minimal correction:
Is there still money for the transfer of lambs
should read:
Is there still money for the transfer of lamps
😉
LOL well… there are lamps and lambs at Easter
Newsweek Europe report made possible after headline in KeepTalkingGreece was noticed. Thank you!
http://www.newsweek.com/greek-atheists-union-slam-holy-light-transport-costs-320280
🙂 see the power of Holy Light now?and it has not arrived yet!