The practice of using religion as a justification for slaughtering large numbers of one’s fellow humans has no doubt existed ever since people started appealing to a deity or deities to support their wishes. The example of the Crusades springs to mind, and more recently Mr Putin’s eliciting the support of Patriarch Kyrill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, for the invasion of Ukraine.

The Greeks, as usual, have a slightly different slant on things. Apart from maintaining a purely defensive stance in military matters for many decades, they have appointed the Archangel Michael protector of the Greek Air Force, as the following announcement shows. Interestingly, the Greek term “Taxiarch”, which in Greek Orthodoxy is applied to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel as leaders of the heavenly host, also equates to the rank of Air Commodore in the Greek Air Force.

A major air display will take place at the beach of Palaio Faliro and Flisvos south of Athens, to celebrate the festival of the Archangel Michael as patron saint of the Greek Air Force. Under the slogan “Leadership – Innovation – Vision”, the event will be held on Sunday 6th November, with displays by the pilots of the Greek Air Force. The Archangel Michael is Taxiarch and Commander in Chief, and as such has been established as the protector of the Greek Air Force since 1954.

Announcing the event, the mayor of Palaio Faliro said: “It is a real honour for the city and the municipality of Palaio Faliro to be chosen once again by the Air Force to celebrate this annual event, with its traditional brilliance, at our most characteristic landmark, which is Flisvos. The fact makes us truly proud, myself personally, our Municipal Authority and all our fellow citizens.

“The Municipal Authority of Palaio Faliro is coordinating with the Air Force and the other services involved, to ensure that people will crowd into Faliro bay to enjoy the unique sight and the skills of the Greek pilots. I invite all of our fellow citizens to attend this unique display, on Sunday 6th November at 12.30 pm at Palaio Faliro.

“We will all celebrate together, the Greek pilots and airmen, the unsleeping guardians of our national airspace, and the Air Force personnel, who fight selflessly every day for the dignity and integrity of our country.”

From Autodioikisi News.