Archpriest Georgios Chalavazis

In the Patisia area, in the courtyard of the “Pammakaristos” Hospital, visitors can enjoy the bust of the Greek hierarch of the Greek Catholic Church, Georgios Chalavazis (1881-1957). It is a brass bust, a work of 1966, which rests on a pedestal and depicts the hierarch in vestments, an encolpion and officiating stoles. The pedestal is engraved with the name of the depicted person and those of the creators of the work of art, sculptors Thanasis Apartis and Markos Armaos, as well as the saying “Blind abandonment to the divine providence that governs everything” in Greek. Georgios Chalavazis was an Exarch of the Greek Catholic Church. Born in Siros, he did extensive philanthropic and educational work during harsh periods, such as the Asia Minor Catastrophe, World War II, the Occupation and the Civil War. The fruit of his social and pastoral work was the “Pammakaristos” hospital, which was founded in 1953 and became part of the National Health System (ESY) in 1986. He was awarded with honorary distinctions from the Greek State and the Greek Red Cross for his work.