On World Mental Health Day (October 10th)

 

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

October 10th of each year is considered a day dedicated worldwide to mental health. It was established in 1994 by the World Federation of Mental Health and the World Health Organization, in order to raise public awareness of mental illness issues. This is because mental illnesses are constantly increasing, to the extent that experts are talking about a global "epidemic" of mental disorders, such as those related to depression or alcohol consumption. And in our country, things are not better. There are statistics that show that 10 to 12% of the total population of all ages suffers from mental illnesses, while as for adolescents, there is their expressed statement (2 out of 5) that they are not satisfied with their lives and do not feel generally "well".

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The Hatred of the Internet

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The newspaper Ta Nea (5/19/2025) conducted an investigation titled "The Keyboards of... Hate", in which the data of the Ministry of Citizen Protection on cases of abusive speech on social networking media were presented, and "testimonies of victims of abusive speech" with the consequences in the psychological sphere are recorded. In fact, "the perpetrators act with the belief that they will not be prosecuted."

In the main article of the same newspaper simply titled "Hate" it is written:

"In recent years, a new type of hatred, extremely dangerous and complex in its forms, has spread with disproportionate consequences. The hatred of the Internet. Today's research by 'NEON' not only describes its versions. Not only does it emphatically note its effects. But it also underlines the current legislative framework and the institutional shield that we have or must expand against the carriers of this hatred.

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TV Series - "Saint Paisios: From Farasa to Heaven" (Seasons 1 and 2)

Saint Paisios: From Farasa to Heaven

Season One (English subtitles)

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 9

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Cast and Screenwriter of the Television Series About Saint Paisios Visit the Metropolis of Nafpaktos

On the 9th and 10th of July, His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou was visited by the screenwriter of the successful television series about Saint Paisios “From Farasa to Heaven,” Mr. George Tsiakkas and his wife, actress Christina Pavlidou, who played Saint Paisios’ mother, Eulogia, with three other friends of his.

On the morning of July 9, they visited the Offices of the Sacred Metropolis, where they discussed with His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos about Saint Paisios, whom he met personally and wrote two books about, such as “Saint Paisios the Athonite as an Empirical Theologian” and “Saint Paisios the Athonite: An Autobiography”, as well as drafting the petition for his canonization to the Ecumenical Patriarchate as early as 2004, ten years after his repose.

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"Life Is Not Digital" (Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew)

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople was interviewed on May 25th 2025 by George I. Androutsopoulos, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Athens, which was published on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in the University of Athens newspaper, “Vima tis Kyriakis”. We quote below a portion of the interview:

Question: I thank you very much, on behalf of the university community, for the honor and opportunity of our conversation. Let us start with the young people. One - the positive - side is that the students of our University record excellent performance when they continue their studies abroad or participate in international competitions. The other, however, is that our children and young people today spend a large part of their time on Instagram and TikTok, while the rise in the phenomena of violence among young people is impressive. Have the standards and the path of prudence and virtue been lost in our days? How could the University and the Church contribute to a restart?

Answer: Christ is Risen! Thank you very much for the invitation. I am familiar with the newspaper of the University of Athens and I congratulate you for the initiative to create this forum for dialogue and reflection, but also for the effort to highlight the multidimensional work that is being done in your historic educational institution for the benefit not only of the academic community, but also of the entire Greek society.

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