The Bell of World Peace and Love in Athens, uniting positive energy to pray for the world's blessings
As the cradle of democracy, Athens carries profound cultural heritage and historical legacy. Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men and President of Federation of World Peace and Love,Love of the World Cultural Goodwill Group to Athens on July 9th for cultural exchange, promoting the ideals of conscience, love, and peace.
That day, he separately met with Deputy Minister of Health Dimitrios Vartzopoulos and Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and all Greece. Dimitrios Vartzopoulos rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and made a wish, becoming the 554th bell ringer worldwide. He then signed the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope, joining others in uniting positive energy to pray for the world's blessings.
The delegation visited the Greek Ministry of Health and was received by Deputy Minister Dimitrios Vartzopoulos. Dimitrios Vartzopoulos rang the Peace Bell and made a wish for peace: "I wish peace and prosperity to the whole world." The delegation shared with the Deputy Minister that conscience is crucial for global peace and health, expressing hope that everyone can harness their inner strength to bring about positive change in the world. Deputy Minister Dimitrios Vartzopoulos highlighted the importance of the meeting in promoting mental health and addressing climate change challenges, and expressed expectations that these efforts would contribute to a more harmonious international society.
Dimitrios Vartzopoulos said in an interview that he believes that the Federation of World Peace and Love(FOWPAL) has indeed made a lot of contributions to world peace and understanding, and emphasized that working to promote peace, love and understanding around the world and all human beings is indeed a very beautiful goal . He thanked Dr. Hong for his efforts and ongoing actions. As a psychologist, he believed that love is a goal worth pursuing and achieving, and affirmed that the members of the visiting delegation were doing a great job.
Members of the delegation come from around the world, including the octogenarian Dong Rong. During the journey, he walked alongside younger participants over rough and steep paths, documenting each step of this journey of love and peace with his mobile phone. Dong has accompanied Dr. Hong in promoting the ideals of love and peace worldwide, having embarked on 70 trips spanning 60 countries. Volunteer Huimei expressed great joy in participating, feeling that this journey has enriched her life with higher values and beautiful memories. Every encounter and experience during the trip nourished her spirit and fueled her determination to move forward. "I am truly delighted to have come to Greece!" she exclaimed.
Athens, an important city in ancient Greece, stands as a center of democracy and philosophical thought, with democracy being a cornerstone of peace. The FOWPAL's visit to Greece marks their journey to the 104th country globally, symbolizing another significant milestone for peace. Dr. Hong Taozi led a delegation of 30 members to visit several cities in Greece, delivering messages of love, peace, and conscience. They also invited leaders from various sectors to ring the Peace Bell, make wishes for peace, and collectively endorse three declarations:International Day of Conscience, World Day of the Power of Hope, and World Prayer Day.