UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marianna V. Vardinoyannis visited the Cultural Center of the Holy Metropolis of Nikaia on Friday 20 December 2019, during a Christmas food distribution event, to be there for our fellow citizens in need.

During a wonderful event that filled the hearts of the residents of Nikaia with hope and warmth, the Reverend Metropolitan of Nikaia Alexios welcomed Mrs Vardinoyannis, thanked her for her presence and continuous support, and gave her an icon of the Virgin Mary.  “Your presence here is an expression of love and hope and we thank you warmly.  Please accept this icon, which will protect you,” the Metropolitan of Nikaia Alexios told Mrs Vardinoyannis.

A group of small children offered her a beautiful bouquet and their embrace to thank her for being there for them.

Mrs Vardinoyannis, visibly touched, spoke from the heart to the people who gathered at the Cultural Center of Nikaia to receive food for Christmas: “I would like to wish happy holidays and a Merry Christmas to you all.  I am here with you today, but I want you to know that you are constantly in my thoughts and heart, and I try to stand by you with all my powers.  My mother always told me that we need to share the blessings bestowed on us by God.  I treasure these words to this day.  I understand the difficulties you are going through and I want to be there for you.”

It should be noted that the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation has always supported the Holy Metropolis of Nikaia by participating in the regular food distributions for the nearly 3,000 underprivileged families in the seven Municipalities registered with the Welfare Sector of the Nikaia Metropolis.