The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias visited on Holy Friday 18 April 2025 the Surveillance Outpost “5” in Evros at the area of responsibility of the XVI Mechanised Infantry Division in Didymoteicho.
During his visit, Mr. Dendias was accompanied by the Chief HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Commander of the 1st Army “ACHILLEAS” Lieutenant General Stavros Papastathopoulos, the Commander of the D’ Army Corps Lieutenant General Panagiotis Kavidopoulos and the Commander of the XVI Mechanised Infantry Division Major General Georgios Vasios.
The Minister of National Defence has been briefed on the Surveillance Outpost’s mission, had conversations with army members and conscripts and exchanged Easter wishes with them.
Mr. Dendias in his statement during his visit to the Outpost noted the following:
“This day, this Holy Friday, is a day of reflection for all Christians. But after Holy Friday, there is always Holy Saturday.
After the Entombment of Christ, there is the Resurrection.
From the borders of our Country, here in Surveillance Outpost “5” at the Greek-Turkish border, one looks at things from a different perspective.
They feel proud of these people, of the soldiers, the Non-Commissioned Officers, the Officers, the members of our Country’s Armed Forces, who are standing guards here these days, so that Greek men and women would be able to celebrate Easter safely.
Therefore, I should like to thank everybody from my heart and to reassure them of the trust and love that the Greek society surrounds them with.
I wish you all Happy Easter and Happy Resurrection Sunday”.
Then, the Ministry of National Defence visited Orestiada, where he attended the service of Lamentation of Christ at the Metropolitan Church of Agioi Theodoroi, officiated by His Eminence the Metropolitan Damaskinos of Didymoteicho, Orestiada and Soufli, as well as the procession of the Epitaph.
The service of Lamentation of Christ was also attended by the MPs Alexandros Dermentzopoulos and Anastatios Dimoschakis, the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Christodoulos Topsidis, the Mayor of Orestiada Diamantis Papadopoulos, and the Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Police Lieutenant General Paschalis Syritoudis, as well as by representatives of Local Authorities and others.