Υ. E. Mr.Governor of Alexandria,
Y. E. Mr. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece
Mrs. Chairman of Vardinogianni Institution and UNESCO’s Ambassador of Good Will
Mr. President of Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation,
Mr. President of University Alexandria,
Mr.Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina,
Guests of honour, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Alexandria, the famous city all around the world, untouched from the force of the time as a great healer, universal centre or cosmopolis better to use a Greek term of art, letters, culture, intellectual search and upswing of human to the God, once more opens the gates of History in this sacred precinct of spirit, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and welcomes the eminent Εxhibition of Velimezi-Margariti’s Icons Collection.
Without doubt it’s a unique event, because gazing ecstatically these brilliant ecclesiastical works of art, which constitute the skilful and tangible expression of Orthodox faith and teaching, we know the historical development of their configuration, from their origin to Fayoum style of ancient Egyptian culture up to their final formation into the spiritual bosom of the Byzantine art
Therefore a meeting of cultures through the processing potency of faith! Visible expression of the need of soul to portray elevated as well as devout sentiments! Intellectual fragrance, emanating from the most exquisite chords of the human being! Holy heirlooms, been respected by centuries and well-preserved by different nations in the alternation of empires that occasionally prevailed. So today we, the citizens of the 21st century, can enjoy and through them remember that, even if in the modern time is worshipped the creation and The creator is ignored, the human beings continue to bring the divine gift of aesthetic attitude and can adorn the earthly world with works of unique and pious inspiration.
Thence, as a debt of honour, we congratulate the contributors, who organised the present exhibition, that takes place under the auspices of His Excellency, the Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias and Mrs. Suzanna Moubarak, First Lady of Egypt, the country that cherishes us with so much love, honour and respect and to whom we earnestly express our deep and sincere gratitude.
We congratulate Mr. Emilios and Christos Margaritis, who made the donation of the Icons of Velimezi-Margariti’s Collection to the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. Which in turn, under the effective Presidency of Alexandria born Mr. Antonios Papadimitriou and his excellent collaborators, in the line of its multifarious activities, they inaugurate in the City of Alexander the Great the world opening of the presentation of these important exhibits.
We also congratulate the Dr.Ismail Seragelntin, Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina, because in this notorious place of universal intellectual reflection he entertains the distinguished Collection.
The present exhibition is combined with the important fact of the Official inauguration of The Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies, a brilliant work which is effected with the collaboration of the University of Alexandria and the sponsoring of Vardinogianni Institution, the action of which we honour today in the person of its attending Chairman and expending herself in the ministration of the future of humanity, the children, Mrs.Marianna Vardinogianni, UNESCO’s Ambassador of Good Will and Sovereign the Apostolic and Patriarchal Throne of Saint Mark, as well as the sponsoring of Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation.
Blessing, therefore, the memory of the two protagonists who formed this Collection, a treasury of intellectual gems, unforgettable and Alexandrian Emilios Velimezis and Antonios Benakis, we praise and bless all those people who worked for this exhibition, invoking the grace and the endless mercy of God in the life of all.
