Damaskinos Theophilos

Damaskinos, Archbishop Theophilos (Papandreou Dimitrios) During World War II, Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens and all Greece, undertook the role of leading the battle against the German policy regarding the annihilation of the Jews of Greece. Born in 1890, as Dimitrios Papandreou, he was ordained a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church in 1917, later assuming the name Damaskinos. When the news first reached Athens from Thessaloniki about the initial deportations and the preparations for more transports, Avraham Amarilio, Asher Moissis, and Daniel Elhanati, representing the Jewish community, went to meet Damaskinos to ask him to intervene. Sick in bed, he listened to the details and was moved to tears. Immediately, he declared he would make every effort and intercede however he could to help the Jews. Damaskinos, who summoned an urgent meeting of all the leaders of prominent associations and organizations in Athens, dramatically reported to them about the severe situation and tragedy of "Our Jewish Brothers." On March 23, 1943, he sent a protest letter to Prime Minister Constantinos Logothetopoulos, signed by 29 prominent figures, leaders of organizations representing the gamut of the spiritual and professional leadership of Greece. The next day, March 24, 1943, he also sent a petition to Gunther von Altenburg, ambassador of the Reich Plenipotentiary for Greece, requesting that the German government act for the cancellation of the deportation order directed at the Jews, signed by representatives of academic institutions, the arts and sciences, as well as commercial and industrial organizations. However, his appeal was unsuccessful, and, as a result, he could only warn the Jews to be ready for difficult times. With his position of high rank, he was able to influence the clergy on all levels of the church hierarchy to extend help to the persecuted Jews. Through his secretary, Yiannis Yiorgakis, Damaskinos suggested that all the priests should extend aid to theJews and that the convents should be opened to all those who would wish to hide there. Damaskinos also helped transfer money collected in Athens to the Jews of Thessaloniki who were being deported in order to buy them food for the journey. In this he cooperated with Yiorgos Alexiadis Gennadios*, Metropolitan of Thessaloniki. Damaskinos met with Panos Haldezos*, the director general of the Athens municipality. He informed him: "I have made my cross, have spoken with God, and decided to save as many Jewish souls as I can. Even if I were to endanger myself, I will baptize the Jews, and you will issue municipal documents, so that they obtain identity cards, as Christian Greeks." With the cooperation of Agelos Evert*, the chief of the Athens police, thousands of identity cards in Greek names were issued to protect all those in hiding and help others escape. Damaskinos proposed that Ilias (Eliahou) Barzilai, the chief rabbi of Athens, escape to the Near East, however, the rabbi declined the offer, as he did not want to part from his wife and daughter. Instead, the underground smuggled him out of the city to the mountains. After the German occupation, Damaskinos served as regent of Greece until the king returned from exile. He died in 1949. On May 27, 1969, Yad Vashem recognized Archbishop Theophilos Damaskinos as Righteous Among the Nations.