Patriotic minded Thessaloniki Metropolitan Anthimos caused surprise in Greece by saying that he was praying for success in Brussels for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. However, while he stood on his side for the economy, he is not satisfied with the position of Tsipras to the name dispute, i.e. the position of a compound name with a geographical qualifier. In an interview with the newspaper “Kathimerini”, Anthimos said he disagreed with the proposal of Tsipras for compound name and notes that neither he, nor his predecessors, nor the people accepts this view of the Greek Government.
According to Anthimos, who each week on his liturgies “preaches” against the idea of a compound name against compromise with Macedonia, the name should be derived from the Macedonian place names and to have nothing to do with the name of Macedonia.
– An example of how it can be named is “Republic of Pelagonia.” There are two or three that can be extracted from their regions, but I say why not stay “Republic of Skopje” – commented Anthimos for “Kathimerini”.
Metropolitan points out that it is necessary that Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, which Tsipras, surprisingly, left to work, putting the head of the ranks of the ultra-nationalist “Independent Greeks”, should continue to exist.
Anthimos said Papandreou’s decision to abolish the Ministry significantly hurt the people of Northern Greece, making them feel irrelevant in the country.
– Ministry gives life and sense of presence and importance of the Greek state in the region of Macedonia – said Anthimos.
He personally talks about an incident he made at the time when George Papandreou was prime minister. In one of his visits to the “St. Demetrius” in Thessaloniki, Anthimos in midst liturgy shouted “Long live Macedonia and Ministry” to indicate to Papandreou that he opposes the decision to close the ministry. Anthimos appeals to Tsipras not forget this ministry which now became part of the wider ministry by merging several institutions and to give adequate powers in order not to forget the region.
