Agios Dionysios Areopagitis Church

Archbishop addresses financial crisis in Christmas messsage

(25 Dec 2011) SHOTLIST
1. Archbishop of Athens and All Greece leronymos II holding candles during Christmas service at Agios Dionysios Areopagitis
2. Wide shot service
3. leronymos II swinging censer during service
4. Worshippers during service
5. Close of woman praying
6. Mid of worshippers
7. Wide of church interior
8. Mid of worshippers lighting candles
9. Close of candles
10. Wide of people during service
11. Woman lighting candle
12. Mid of lit candles
13. SOUNDBITE (Greek) leronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece:
You know until now we believed that the crisis troubles only Greece and that here we face problems such as poverty, unemployment and uncertainty. Unfortunately, we observe the crisis spread all over the world. Christmas is a day of love and peace and these two virtues we have to cultivate and spread.
14. Various of service
15. Exterior of Agios Dionysios Areopagitis church
16. SOUNDBITE (Greek) vox pop, Maria Gravriilides, Greek archaeologist:
We have to face everything with a joyful attitude. There are worse things (than the financial crisis) and we, the old ones, we have battled against worse and more difficult situations. I would like to wish everybody Merry Christmas.
17. People leaving church after service
18. SOUNDBITE (Greek) vox pop, Andreas Gavalas, Greek lawyer:
During these difficult times that our country is going through, the ones who have to face the consequences of the crisis are not those who are to blame for it. Unfortunately, those who are to blame for the crisis remain unpunished. May we have courage and may the birth of Jesus Christ offer us hope, love, and a way to solve the problems that the Greeks face.
19. Wide of street scene
STORYLINE
The Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Greece, Ieronymos II, gave a Christmas message of hope and peace on Sunday in Athens, calling on Greeks to find the courage to face the difficult times the country is going through.
The Archbishop of Athens and All Greece was speaking on Christmas Day during a service held in the Agios Dionysios Areopagitis church in the heart of the Greek capital.
Ieronymos said it was not only Greece that was struggling with problems such as poverty and unemployment, and that most parts of the world were undergoing a time of crisis.
Scores of Athenians had gathered for the early morning Christmas service at the church, which is dedicated to the patron saint of Athens.
Greece has been kept solvent only through international bailouts since May 2010.


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