Congratulatory letter of the Head of GES to Metropolitan Kallinikos for the double celebration of Kastoriatranslated

A congratulatory letter to His Eminence the Metropolitan of Kastoria, Mr. Kallinikos, was sent today, November 10, 2026, the eve of the double celebration of Kastoria, by the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Mr. Georgios Kostidis, on the occasion of the completion of 114 years since the liberation of the city. In his letter, Mr. Kostidis refers to the great historical and national significance of November 11, 1912, the day on which Kastoria was freed from the Ottoman yoke, making special mention of the battles of the Macedonian fighters and the victorious operations of the Greek Army during the First Balkan War.

He makes special reference to the figures of Pavlos Melas and the Metropolitan of Kastoria Germanos Karavangelis, whose action left a deep imprint on the Macedonian Struggle, while he also commemorates the Macedonian fighter Filolaos Piheonas, who, when the Greek Army entered the city, announced to the then Metropolitan of Kastoria Joachim the joyous event of liberation.

At the same time, the Head of GES underlines the special spiritual significance of the anniversary, as the liberation of Kastoria is connected, according to local church tradition, with miraculous mediation...