At 23 Agios Dimitrios Street in Spata, within the courtyard of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, the ‘Galilee’ Palliative Care Unit ‘Galilee’ of the Holy Metropolis of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki has been operating since 2010. It provides free care for people with cancer and motor neurone disease (ALS), as well as their families. On Friday 11 December, a concert in Marousi will donate all its proceeds to the unit.
What it offers and to whom
Palliative care does not cure the disease. It addresses the pain, breathlessness, fatigue and emotional distress that accompany it, for both the patient and their carers. ‘Galilee’ does this in three ways: care in the patient’s own home, a Day Care and Activity Centre, and a residential care home. For relatives, there are dedicated support services for carers and for those who are bereaved.
As the unit itself states, it is the only one in the country to offer free, comprehensive services of this kind, with a multidisciplinary team comprising: doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and volunteers. It has been awarded a prize by the Academy of Athens for its work.
A family from Artemida or Spata facing such a diagnosis can call 210 6635955 or 210 6632579, or email galilee@galilee.gr to find out if and how their loved one can be included in the scheme.
How can someone help?
The unit relies on donations and volunteers. On its website, it states that it is looking to expand its patient care teams and runs a volunteer training programme. It also organises introductory visits and monthly open information sessions, known as ‘Archontariki’, for anyone who would like to see the premises before making a decision.
The concert
‘Sea of Music’ is a programme featuring compositions by George P. Lemos (Giorgos Laimos), performed by the Sinfonietta Orchestra conducted by Giorgos Aravidis. It will take place on Friday 11 December 2026 at 8.30 pm at the ‘Daïs’ Multipurpose Centre of the Doukas Educational Institutions, 151 Mesogeia, in Paradisos, Marousi, and will last approximately 90 minutes. According to the organisers, all proceeds will be donated to ‘Galilee’.
Tickets cost 50 euros in Zone A, 40 in Zone B and 30 in Zone C, whilst student and school pupil tickets cost 10 euros. They are available from Ticket Services: online at ticketservices.gr (with a 6 per cent surcharge for online purchases), by telephone on 210 7234567 and at the ticket office at 39 Panepistimiou Street in Athens.
From Artemida, the venue is about half an hour’s drive away via Attiki Odos. Anyone who is unable to attend can support the unit directly via the ‘You can contribute’ section on galilee.gr.
Source: ‘Galilee’ Palliative Care Unit (galilee.gr) and Ticket Services, concert announcement, November 2026.
