Βy Kostas Onisenko
First day for schools today in Ukraine. All the cities were filled with children, formally dressed, holding flowers, and running around waiting for the first bell to ring.
On this day, the Primate of the Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, posted a message on Facebook, in which he wished children, parents, and teachers and stressed the importance of knowledge and learning for people.
Find below the message of Metropolitan Epifaniy:
“September 1st is a holiday, which probably affects every family. Someone, already an adult, remembers this holiday recalling the period when the biggest problem he/she had in his/her life was the results of the exams.
Someone, accompanying his children to school, wishes them from the bottom of his heart easy learning, good teachers and loyal friends. Someone happily meeting his students, thanks the Lord for the professional vocation in teaching – he is ready to give children not only knowledge but also his love, his soul. Pupils and students are happy to meet their classmates. And those who go to the first or last class will especially remember this first of September.
Dear pupils, students, parents, teachers! Today in prayer we will thank the Lord for the opportunity to teach and realize all the talents given by God, to develop and use them for our own good and the good of other people. We will ask the Lord for strength and blessing to follow the good path of learning, to cross it with wisdom and endurance, constantly maturing spiritually, morally, mentally, physically. “As all educational institutions open their doors today, so do you open your souls, hearts and minds to learning.”