The Archbishop of Athens, Jerome, despatched a message to lecturers and college students all through the nation on the event of the start of the brand new tutorial yr. In his message to the lecturers, he emphasised that the Church will as soon as once more assist their tireless efforts by supporting their academic actions. And the scholars are reminded that the college is a small workshop of peace for all of us and lists the primary values ​​of the Greek society.

Listed here are his phrases to the lecturers within the nation:

“Expensive lecturers,

On the brink of the brand new college yr, it’s customary to precise needs for achievement in your actually useful work.

Together with my honest needs on at the present time, I wish to share a thought with you. Apostle Philip, having met an Ethiopian nobleman who was studying concerning the Messiah, requested him: “Do you perceive what you’re studying?”. So I consider your wrestle and its difficulties to remodel the straightforward reception of knowledge right into a deep understanding of the gorgeous and stylish issues that the human mind has achieved by the grace of God! An actual achievement! It takes psychological energy, disposition, i.e. need of the center, endurance, perseverance in trials, capability.

I’m positive that you just possess all of the above qualities and now you’ll supply them generously to your college students who wish to style the treasures of every self-discipline and uncover the true which means of their lives. On the identical time, you’ll hearken to their considerations with deep empathy and with infinite humanity you’ll ease their psychological burden, instilling in them hope and growing virtues. For that reason, I specific not only a want, however confidence that the brand new college yr will probably be a yr of creativity, studying and non secular usefulness.

Our church will as soon as once more assist your continued efforts. Supporting you with prayer, but additionally providing quite a few academic applications, cultural occasions, college competitions, locations to go to which can be correctly constructed to reinforce your academic work.

In conclusion, I heartily specific to you my fatherly concern and love in Christ as a companion in your admirable journey. Blissful and blessed college yr!”.

Deal with to highschool college students:

Expensive youngsters,

In the present day, firstly of the brand new college yr, I wish to share a quantity with you: 258 million youngsters and youth world wide would not have the chance to go to highschool and be taught in secure circumstances. The principle causes for this are conflict, violence, racial discrimination, but additionally the dearth of assets of their nations to assist the tutorial course of. The longer term for these youngsters appears bleak. This can be very unsure what number of of them will be capable to reap the advantages of training. The one positive factor is that these children would fairly be in your home proper now, having fun with peace and dreaming concerning the future.

Can we do one thing? The reply isn’t easy, however we won’t cease preventing. Everybody in their very own method. Let’s begin with our personal life. How a lot violence can we tolerate? How a lot will we combat for peace? How a lot will we attempt to embrace distinction? The unhappy phenomena of home and faculty violence outline our accountability and our efforts for a greater world – our world wherein there isn’t any place for violence.

Faculty is a spot the place we meet many individuals. From the diploma to which we are able to tolerate and settle for the distinction of our classmates and lecturers, from the diploma to which we are able to perceive them, begins peace or conflict in our lives, love, not violence. It may be mentioned that the college is a small workshop of peace for all of us.

We’re blessed to reside in a spot the place we are able to freely specific our concepts and disagreements. There are establishments and values ​​that shield us. That is what our ancestors fought for and that is what we’re preventing for in the present day.

So each time we take into consideration ‘one other day at college’, let’s say a little bit prayer: keep in mind all these youngsters who had been born in war-torn or troubled areas and are due to this fact unsure that they may be capable to go to highschool each morning. And let our prayer grow to be a deed. To grow to be a wrestle for the acceptance of the opposite. A wrestle to seize the great thing about the day. Battle for peace and kindness.

I want you a cheerful and blessed college yr. Might our Christ, Who is known as the “Prince of Peace,” all the time fill your souls with His mild.”

Addressing younger main college college students:

“Expensive youngsters,

In the present day you’re all pleased as you begin the brand new college yr and meet once more within the college yard with your mates, classmates and lecturers.

Together with the enjoyment, you may additionally really feel some nervousness about whether or not it is possible for you to to deal with the higher class you may be attending. Know that every one of us, younger and outdated, really feel the identical method each time we’ve got to take care of one thing new.

Subsequently, simply as a short while in the past you tried to really feel the freshness of a drop of holy water and it made you cheerful, in order usually as potential search the assistance of our Christ, who’s the nice Pal of kids and Father of us all, in order that he could pleasure and smiles to embellish your life.

I bless you and I’ll pray on daily basis that you just obtain every little thing that’s on your good. I want energy and success to our good lecturers and to your mother and father. Blissful and blessed college yr!”.