Transcript of a speech by Father Georgios Schinas
Maybe some of you older people remember a person who marked the 80s. A handsome young man, talented, charismatic, who lived intensely and left early. He was a homosexual, a fashion designer, the then-famous Billy Bo.
Much has been written about his life. About his walks in Mykonos with celebrities, about his social appearances, about his personal adventures. But few know his inner journey, as narrated by his spiritual guide. A journey that was not particularly highlighted even in the books published about him.
He was a man who thirsted for life, thirsted for love. But, as is often the case, he sought it on the wrong paths.
At some point, the disease visited him. Billy Bo was the first famous victim of AIDS in Greece. Most people say that the disease is only bad. And yet, sometimes it becomes a reason for awakening.
As his spiritual director recounts, when the test came, a “spiritual bell rang.” Some never hear it. But he heard it. And this, as was said, testified that there were good elements within him.
The priest remembers their first meeting:
"I see a child, a young man, like an angel. In his beautiful leather clothes. He enters the church and says to me: 'Father, I want to confess.' For a moment I tried to distinguish whether it was a boy or a girl. Tall, with a special beauty, almost delicate..."
From that moment on, he began a deep path of repentance. He confessed sincerely. He began to go to church, to receive communion, to pray. Over time, the disease progressed and his condition worsened. The priest now visited him at his home, in Kolonaki, to hear his confession and receive communion.
When he first entered his house, he thought he was in a fashion museum. Everywhere were models, photos from shows, secular snapshots. But every time he went back, something changed. A photo would leave, an image would come in. In the end, as he describes, the space looked more like a monastery than a designer's studio.
When he left for America seeking treatment, he ordered a large iron cross, foldable to fit in his suitcase. He placed it behind the door of his hospital room, so that he could see the Cross of Christ and pray.
The treatments did not work. He returned to Greece and the final deterioration of his body began. The road to the end was approaching.
His spiritual father recounts one of the last incidents:
"I took communion with him on Saturday morning. When I was getting ready to leave, he said to me:
"Father, come and give me communion again after midnight. I will leave before dawn. The Virgin Mary notified me."
I wondered if I should believe him. But since he asked for Holy Communion, I did him a favor."
The priest went in the middle of the night and gave him communion again. A few hours later, before dawn on Sunday, Vasilis – “Vasilakis” as he was called – passed away, as he had foretold.
"Wish, my children, that I have the same fate as Vasilakis," the priest would later say.
This testimony presents a different dimension of Billy Bo's life. Not the secular planner, but the man who, through trial, sought spiritual meaning.
According to the speaker, the Church does not confuse things or embellish falls. It does not tell someone that they are “walking correctly” when they are walking towards the cliff. At the same time, however, it does not disappoint anyone. It highlights, as is emphasized, the path of return and transformation.
This is how the case of Billy Bo is presented: as a story of inner transformation, repentance, and hope until the last moment.
From the journalistic team of Greek Radio FL
photo Greek Radio FL
