Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the Children’s Oncology Hospital ‘Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA’ on Wednesday, November 24, 2021.
Bartholomew was welcomed by Vardinoyannis, founder and president of the eponymous foundation and of the Elpida Friends Association, as well as by the director of ‘Aglaia Kyriakou’ and ‘Aghia Sofia’ Children’s Hospitals.
The Greek Orthodox patriarch offered a prayer at the church of Agia Anna in Elpida’s grounds, for the children who are being treated there and their families.
A memorandum of cooperation between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and both the Elpida and ‘Vision of Hope’ (Orama Elpidas) associations was signed, for the patriarchate’s support in fighting childhood cancer, and for helping to increase the number of voluntary bone marrow donors.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate is already participating in Vision of Hope’s ‘Make Greece Compatible’ program, which is raising public awareness on the need for more bone marrow donors.
