From: http://siatistaagiosnikolaos.gr/2015/05/13

THE
response of the Most Reverend Metropolitan Sisanios and Siatistis etc.
Pavlou in the criticism made by the secretary of K.O. of SYRIZA Mr. Nikos
Friend regarding the Holy Relic of Saint Barbara.

In a democratic country they don't just talk
the politicians, but everyone. I heard the Parliament on TV
representative of SYRIZA Mr. Friend to tell about the transfer of
Holy Relic of Saint Barbara in Saint Savvas Hospital, that
so such an event turns society back many centuries, he spoke
even about idolatry and that anyone who wants can go to it
Church to worship. I respect both his faith and his infidelity
everyone. The cunning, the cheap spirit and the perversion of the truth do not
tolerate.
In principle, Mr. Friend did not understand that he is trying to turn the Left back several centuries.
In other words, in the times when "left" meant blasphemy of faith,
capitulation of science, about what is irreconcilable, doctrinal atheism
and some others worse. So he has stayed there or is trying to stay there
He brings us back by using power; However, let's remember that from
those who brought the Left to Power, the vast majority
they are faithful people.

Mr. parliamentary representative though
fell into something even more serious, in the irony and irony of the patients
and their relatives. He really didn't understand why the holy Relic would
transferred to the Hospital; For the simple reason that patients cannot
in the situation in which they are to go. More respect
therefore to the patients and the situation they are in. Those where
they could go, they went, to those who cannot go to Saint Barbara.
So a little respect from all the "smart people" towards patients.

Mr. Friend, however, he did something impermissible and it is impermissible the slander
which turns the left many centuries back. He gave to the Church the
censure that instead of taking the sick to the doctor, he leads them to
saints, in miracles, maybe even in superstition. It may seem a little
tough, but I will say the word: shame! Shame because he is acting consciously
a distortion of things. Let him remember that it is not the State
the first to operate a Hospital, but the Church, let him remember that
more Hospitals in Athens were built in spaces that were opened in it
Church and gladly granted them, let him remember that most
Hospitals have temples, smaller or larger, where they stand together
to the patients, but also in the work of doctors. The word of God
orders, let's honor doctors because they too are a gift from God.
Faith and prayer support the struggle of the patient and those
their relatives (read also any conference findings). As for the
a miracle which you immediately praise, because you obviously don't understand it,
Maybe you should ask someone who has experienced it, maybe it should
ask some doctors who have even experienced it and some where
they talked about a medical emergency, some doctors they sent
the arti cured patient in his pyjamas, to the great physician Osios
John the Russian, before even giving him a discharge, maybe even some
foreign doctors who did not hesitate to confess about the treatment and
saving the patient “it’s a miracle”. Maybe these are fine
letters for you. But stay with your faith (Yours truly) and
leave others with their faith and experience, for those who
they have, of the miracle. Of course you also talked about "idolatry". Not you
I misunderstand because it is logical that you do not understand the meaning and these
consequences of the Incarnation of God in human life, nor him
paternal word "I respect the material through which God worked my salvation". Perhaps the Holy Relics of Saint Barbara challenge your and some others' idols.

However, you were rude to him as well
your colleague, the Minister of Health, who publicly praised him because he
attend the reception of the Holy Relic at the Hospital. You see where I tell you that you are turning the Left back centuries!
You see that the Left that SYRIZA wants to represent today does not
it is composed only by your atheism, but also the faith of many others
ministers and non-ministers; You want him back again; So be respectful
first you otherness and leave this idiosyncrasy in the corner
religious racism against the Orthodox faith. Otherwise you will be called
to answer if the party of which you are a parliamentary representative,
it is an atheistic party, so either autocratic or a democratic one
a party that can contain both believers and atheists who, however, respect each other
each other. The people ask you and entrusted you to deal with them
his problems and not, some of you to check his conscience
of.

I have visited many Hospitals in
external to different countries. I have accompanied patients and in fact
children, several times, I have visited patients in hospitals of
external. I experienced the absolute respect of Doctors and Nursing staff
against what I represented, as against each
religious belief. I saw a doctor postpone medicine for a few minutes
of visiting a patient, respecting his wish to complete the
his communication with his priest. I saw doctors and nursing staff
kindly, servants in my own ministry, facing me
as one of their partners. I say this for you and for others
doctors and nurses. So at least let's be civilized a little.

The subject disease, pain, faith is one
big issue that at least requires respect. When Dr. Francis Collins
head for years of the research team for the Human
Genome, former agnostic and atheist, today he talks about the human
genome as the design and language of God, some may
keep their atheism and respect the faith of others, a lot
rather the faith and hope of the patients.