Nineteenth Blood Driveof the Holy Metropolis of Oropos and Fili

Saturday, October 12/25, 2025

With the blessing and encouragement of His Eminence, Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili, the nineteenth organized Blood Drive of our Holy Metropolis took place on Saturday, October 12/25, 2025, at the Parish Center of the Holy Convent of St. Paraskevi. The blood drive was held with the initiative and responsibility of the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors “The Crucified”, in collaboration with the Nea Ionia General Hospital “Konstantopouleio” (formerly “Saint Olga”).

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 With great surprise and joy, we welcomed the largest participation ever in one of our organized blood drives! A total of 65 volunteers came, of whom 34 were new volunteers.

Since preparations had been made for fewer blood donations, given the average turnout at previous blood drives and the lack of advance participation declarations, there was an increased waiting time, and the hospital’s medical team had to make an additional trip in order to bring more supplies.

In the end, as it had become quite late and in order to safeguard the health of our blood donors, the blood drive had to be stopped, and approximately 10 donors were referred to the hospital for blood donation. Nevertheless, 42 units of blood were collected!

We would like to offer a word of caution: After one of our volunteers fainted upon completing the blood donation, we call the attention of our blood donors to the following very important prerequisites for safe blood donation.

A blood donor must:

● Have gotten at least 7–8 hours of sleep the previous night.

● Have eaten a light breakfast.

● Answer honestly during the taking of the medical history by the blood drive’s physician.

We would like to remind everyone that the Blood Bank of our Holy Metropolis is open to anyone who needs it!As such, we depend on the conscious effort of our volunteer blood donors to participate in our organized blood drives, as well as on the efforts of those who are unable to give blood to attract new volunteers, so that we may always be able to meet the dozens of requests for blood that we receive annually.

● Just as essential as regular blood donation is the regular donation of platelets. “Platelets play an important role in blood clotting and protect against major bleeding.  Platelet transfusions are used to treat patients with leukemia, aplastic anemia, and other haematological disorders.” (Source: http://ekea.gr/platelet/).

For further information on blood donation and platelet donation, you can visit the official website of the National Center for Blood Donation (Ε.ΚΕ.Α., http://ekea.gr/).

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We were very pleased to welcome once again a representative of the “Vision of Hope” Association – Bank of Volunteer Bone Marrow Donors (Children’s Oncological Unit “Marianna Vardinogianni – HOPE”, “Saint Sophia” Children’s Hospital), whose important work is also supported by the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors “† The Crucified”.

Everyone who came to our blood drive had the opportunity to learn about the importance of offering hematopoietic stem cells / bone marrow, as well as the relevant procedure. Through this collaboration, three new volunteers enrolled in the Bank of Volunteer Bone Marrow Donors.

For further information regarding the “Vision of Hope” Association and the donation of hematopoietic stem cells / bone marrow, you can visit the website www.orama-elpidas.gr.

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 We fervently thank the Sisterhood of the Holy Convent of St. Paraskevi in Acharnes for their warm hospitality and their active efforts to attract new blood donors.

We also fervently thank once again the hospital’s medical team for their excellent collaboration, as well as all those who contributed to the smooth and well‑organized execution of the blood drive (members of the St. Philaret the Merciful Guild and the Volunteers Association of our Holy Metropolis, et al.).

And of course, we fervently thank all our volunteer blood donors, who once again “did their part” and thus saved the life of a stranger with their blood.

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Finally, within the framework of the work of the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors “The Crucified” to inform as many potential volunteers as possible about the importance of becoming a regular volunteer blood donor and platelet donor, we would like to remind everyone that whoever wishes has the ability to give blood every 3–4 months:

1. At any time, at any Hospital or Blood Donation Center that is convenient for them anywhere in Greece;

2. Or at one of our next organized blood drives (Winter–November, Spring–February, Summer–June).

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● We inform you that our next organized blood drive will take place, God willing, on Saturday, March 7th, 2026 (new style), at the offices of the Holy Metropolis of Oropos and Fili (44 Filis Ave., Municipal Unit of Fili, Attica).

Association of Voluntary Blood Donors

“† The Crucified”

● For further information, participations, queries, requests for blood, please contact the Saint Philaret the Merciful Guild’s Offices (210 24 12 162) or Mrs. Marianthi Pagoulatos-Toumpa (6972 45 66 82).