Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

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.

Subsequently, the delegation visited Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and all Greece. Volunteers from the delegation, dressed as pure-winged angels, seemed like messengers from heaven, conveying the importance of conscience. They performed a choir rendition of the《A Prayer for Peace》 wishing that everyone cherishes themselves and others with selfless love. The Archbishop shook hands with each member of the delegation and presented small gifts. He expressed his belief in the meaningful work of the FOWPAL, especially as the world faces numerous challenges including war, pandemics, and climate issues. He emphasized the importance of everyone coming together for peace. Archbishop Ieronymos II gifted Dr. Hong two books about the icons of the monasteries in central Athens and introduced the icons on the church walls. Dr. Hong personally placed a conscience scarf symbolizing friendship and blessings around Archbishop Ieronymos II's neck.

Athens is the cradle of Western philosophy, nurturing three great Greek sages: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the FOWPAL, is the inheritor of Tai Ji culture, rooted in Daoist philosophy for over six thousand years. This rare occasion brings together exchanges of ancient wisdom and philosophy from both East and West, united in their efforts to contribute to world peace.

The delegation also visited the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, the only large stadium in the world built entirely of marble. Originally constructed for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, volunteers braved a scorching 42-degree Celsius temperature to sing several songs in front of the stadium. Their clear and resonant voices conveyed wishes of love and peace to the skies, offering prayers for the world in a unique and heartfelt manner.

German basketball player Lionel Ndong interacted with the delegation and expressed his thoughts on the current state of the world, filled with hatred. He emphasized the importance of cherishing the good things we have and spreading love and peace. Ndong mentioned that love and peace are the most important values in the world and must be supported and protected.

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 World Love and Peace Association'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.