Archdiocese of America donates firefighting vehicle to Penteli volunteer brigade

On Friday morning, July 17, a new firefighting vehicle was blessed and handed over to the Volunteer Fire Brigade of Penteli, Greece. The donation came from the Archdiocese of America, and the blessing ceremony was led by Archbishop Elpidophoros, the senior hierarch of the American archdiocese. Attendees included the abbot of the Holy Monastery of Penteli, Metropolitan Ioannis of Thermopylae, officials from the Greek Fire Service, and representatives of the state.

The archbishop emphasized the moral duty to protect nature, stating, “The love you have for God and for nature is an expression of love for humanity… when nature is destroyed, humanity suffers.” Greek officials thanked the archdiocese for strengthening the brigade’s operational readiness, noting that the unit responds to more than 270 emergency incidents each year, especially during the heightened fire‑season.

The donation reflects ongoing cooperation between the Orthodox Church and civil authorities to improve fire‑prevention and response capabilities in a region experiencing increased wildfire risk.