The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki awarded the special honorary distinction bearing the emblem “Saint Demetrios” to former Archbishop Demetrios of America (Trakatellis). The official ceremony took place on Tuesday evening in the university’s ceremonial hall.
In his address to the honouree, the Rector of the Aristotle University, Professor Kyriakos Anastasiasdis, underlined that the award recognises a lifelong journey of selfless service to humanity and honours an outstanding figure of Orthodoxy and global Hellenism, distinguished by a multifaceted presence and profound spiritual contribution.
“Throughout his long ministry, he highlighted the role of Orthodoxy and Hellenism as a steady and sober voice of peace and dialogue. He served knowledge with dedication, and his work constitutes a lasting legacy for younger generations of scholars,” the Rector noted.
In his response, Former Archbishop Demetrios expressed his deep gratitude for the honour, emphasizing that it was bestowed by a university of international renown and was symbolically linked to the name of the Great Martyr Saint Demetrios. He went on to recall his years as a student at the Experimental School of the Aristotle University and paid tribute to his teachers, who, as he noted, placed particular emphasis on truth, sincerity, and integrity. He added that they were never confined solely to official textbooks, but always went “beyond” them.
“This approach required greater effort, which is why the school was considered demanding. No class ever graduated with the same number of students it began with. In my class, we started with 30 students and finished with 21, due to the high academic standards. Yet those demands proved impressive, as all who sat for examinations were admitted to universities,” he said.
The Former Archbishop also referred to his brother, Antonis Trakatellis, who served as Rector of the Aristotle University for six years, as well as to the modern history of Thessaloniki beginning with the outbreak of war in 1940, drawing on his own personal experiences as a resident of the city.
The ceremony concluded with the traditional Polychronion for Former Archbishop Demetrios, performed by the choir of the Theological School “Three Hierarchs,” followed by a musical programme of Byzantine hymns.
Source: makedonitikanea.gr / Photo: EUROKINISSI / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
