In the middle of the most terrible tragedy of modern history, it is the courage of individuals like #Damaskinos that not only saved countless #Jewish lives, but also preserved the true values of #Humanism and #Christianity on which the West was built. #WeRemember #HMD2023

The letter predictably infuriated the occupiers. When the #Nazi general in charge of the country publicly threatened to put #Damaskinos in front of a firing squad, Damaskinos responded 'Greek religious leaders are not shot, they are hanged. I request that you respect this custom'

When the terrible news from #Thessaloniki reached Athens #Damaskinos did not hesitate: just eight days after the first deportations he made public a letter of protest co-signed by prominent Athenians. This appeal, ‘unique in the annals of occupied Europe’ stated amongst other:

Working together with the chief of the #Athens police Angelos #Evert and the chief rabbi of the city Elias #Barzilai, #Damaskinos had already been offering secret aid to as many #Jews as possible

Archbishop #Damaskinos was the head of the Greek #Orthodox Church. From peasant roots, he had fought in the Greek army during WWI before being ordained a priest. During Greece’s occupation by the Nazis he frequently clashed with the German authorities and the quisling government

‘There is neither Greek nor Jew’. Today #WeRemember and honour the six million innocent Jewish victims of the #Holocaust. And on #HolocaustRemembranceDay we recall the story of Archbishop #Damaskinos of Athens, one of the 300 Greek Righteous Among the Nations. A 🧵from #theHELC