Oath of Office
Before taking office, the Prime Minister is sworn in inside the Presidential Mansion by the Archbishop of Athens (the head of the Church of Greece). The Archbishop begins with a few prayers and the Kyrie Eleison, and then the Prime Minister-Elect places his hand on the Bible placed in between two lit candles, all on a table between him and the Archbishop. Following after the Archbishop, the Prime Minister-Elect and recites the following oath:
"I swear (in the name of the Holy, Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity) to safeguard the Constitution and the laws and to serve the general interest of the Greek People."
The Archbishop then recites a few more blessings, and the participants make the Sign of the Cross three times. The Archbishop then congratulates the new Prime Minister, who then shakes hands with the President before the pertinent documents are signed.
Read more about this topic: Prime Minister Of Greece
Famous quotes containing the words oath of, oath and/or office:
“The oath of a lover is no stronger than the word of a
tapster; they are both the confirmer of false reckonings.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Figure a man’s only good for one oath at a time. I took mine to the Confederate States of America.”
—Frank S. Nugent (1908–1965)
“Reason is, and only ought to be, the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.”
—David Hume (1711–1776)