Announcement of His Eminence the Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta etc. Efstathiou as an Honorary Doctor of the University of Piraeus – 22/11/2019 Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC)

In a brilliant ceremony in the packed "Faros" hall at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), on Friday, November 22, 2019, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta, Mr. Efstathios was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the Department of Informatics of the School of Technologies, Informatics and Communications of the University of Piraeus.

The event was held with the kind donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

The ceremony was graced by the presence of His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Mr. Hieronymos, while many academics, university students, representatives of the prime minister and parties, parliamentarians, politicians, metropolitans, representatives of regions and municipalities, etc., attended.

The event, in the "Faros" hall of the SNFCC, opened to the sounds of the music ensembles of the Sparta Music School. Then, the rector of the university, Professor Angelos Kotios, in his address presented in detail the reasons why the Senate and the Department, following the proposal of Assoc. Professor Dimitrios D. Vergadou, chose to announce the Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta, an honorary doctorate, highlighting his significant contribution to culture, letters, but also to his writing, spiritual, charitable and, above all, social work, while made a special reference to the history of the announcement of the honorary doctorates, presenting at the same time international personalities who bear the specific title of the University of Piraeus. The president of the Department of Informatics, Professor Georgios Tsichrintzis, then referred to the work of the department, its programs and international awards.

The work of the honoree was presented by the Deputy President of the Department of Informatics, Director of the MSc Program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies", Associate Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados.

Subsequently, the texts of the faculty's resolution, the proclamation, and the doctoral diploma were read, the vesting of the honoree and the presentation of the diploma, the texts of the resolution and the proclamation.

Taking the floor the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta, Mr. Efstathios, visibly moved, thanked the rector, the senate and the members of the university for this honorary distinction and especially Dimitrios D. Vergados both for his honorary proposal and for his entire scientific and personal career.

He stated that the honor belongs to the Diocese of Monemvasia and Sparta but "extends" to the Church of Greece as well. He then warmly thanked the "Stavros Niarchos" Foundation for the Donation and its offer and especially the President Mr. A. Drakopoulos, as well as all the official guests for their honorable presence.

This was followed by the speech of the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta, Mr. Efstathiou with a central theme "Outline of the position of the Orthodox Church towards modern computer and internet technology" a landmark speech about the modern position of the Church towards modern Digital Technology, its use.

Characteristic were the words of His Eminence "It would be out of place and very serious to dispute the fact that Technology as such and its achievements are based on high achievements of the Spirit or more obviously high and "noble" Spiritual pains. Those who reject the above truth have not sufficiently realized how brilliant and ground-breaking ideas, what high inspirations of the mind are behind the critical modern technological creations, especially Information Technology. They have failed to understand that there is a remarkable to iconic "spirituality" behind the seemingly "cold" electronic technology as it "comes of age" in the scientific cradle of Informatics" and then stated "Civilizations are built, when the ego meets the you, so that it becomes we. In this encounter, the Christian religion plays a decisive role, which recalls the peptocyian nature to the ancient beauty and orients man to his inner world... Therefore, the Orthodox Church does not deny culture. It devours him, cultivates him, nourishes him with value. It adopts him, but does not absolve him. Truth and beauty go hand in hand. In this context, the official Orthodox Church never opposed the development of science and technology, nor was it afraid of their progress... In conclusion, Information Technology and technology in general is not a wild beast that came to devour man, but it is an amazing achievement of science , that is, of human knowledge and of the Spirit."

Upon completion of the event, the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Mr. Hieronymos spoke to journalists, to whom, after describing the event as beautiful and interesting, he emphasized that this honor does not only concern the Metropolitan of Sparta, but also the Church, the place, the homeland and science itself, while he congratulated the University of Piraeus and Prof. Dimitrios D. Vergados for this initiative.

A reception followed, in the "Delta" room at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC).