Wishes for the celebration of the Epiphany were accompanied by political messages by political leaders, given that we are entering the final stage of elections. SYRIZA President Alexis Tsipras attended the celebration of the Epiphany in Piraeus. “Brilliant day for Orthodoxy, great day for Greek men and women. I wish everyone endurance, strength and faith in their own strength and more light, light, we need it, especially in recent years, when we walk in darkness. Happy birthday everyone,” he said.

PASOK President Nikos Androulakis celebrated Epiphany in Fanari, where he also had a private meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew, whom he described in his remarks as “God’s gift to Orthodoxy.” “We are happy that you have chosen Constantinople for the Holy Epiphany,” the Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized for his part. Mr. Androulakis attended the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Pansept Patriarchal Church of St. George, and then at the Blessing of the Waters in the Horned Bay. “Here, from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, where I had the honor and pleasure to celebrate the Epiphany with the Greeks of the City, I want to wish in the new year a bright year of health, joy, social justice and prosperity for all Greek women and all Greeks around the world.”

c.g. KKE member Dimitris Koutsoubas, in a statement, wished “happy birthday with optimism and faith in the possibility that people will become the protagonists of events in order to illuminate a better today and tomorrow for everyone.”

Political messages from Mr. Tsipras and Mr. Androulakis, who immediately start touring.

Yesterday ended… the holiday break for political leaders, who immediately begin the heavy program of the election campaign. SYRIZA and PASOK will finalize the ballots in the coming weeks with the finishing touches.

Interior Minister Makis Voridis ruled out in an interview (ERT) changing the electoral law to elect foreign deputies by state vote. Parties are looking to recruit “heavyweights” to claim expatriate votes, even if turnout ends up disappointingly low.

Mr. Tsipras and Mr. Androulakis will immediately start touring with the aim of covering as many regions of the country as possible, while SYRIZA and PASOK attach great importance to the basin, where they will seek to strengthen their power, especially after joining additional places that have arisen from the results census. Thus, the leaders of the two parties are planning many speeches and activities in Attica.