On Sunday, December 8, 2024, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the Greek Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, paid an official visit to the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Also present during the visit was Metropolitan Symeon of Fthiotida, representing the Church of Greece and the President of its Holy Synod, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece.
Signing of Two Memoranda of Cooperation
The visit’s primary purpose was the signing of two Memoranda of Cooperation:
- Inclusion of African Students in Greek Ecclesiastical Education
The first memorandum, signed between the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Church of Greece, and the General Secretariat of Religious Affairs of the Greek Ministry of Education, focuses on the inclusion of African youth in Greece’s Ecclesiastical Education. Under this agreement:- Local hierarchs of the Patriarchate in African countries will select candidates and facilitate the issuance of necessary travel documents.
- The General Secretariat of Religious Affairs will oversee their enrollment and tuition-free education, issue entry and residency permits for Greece, and cover initial travel expenses.
- The Church of Greece and local school councils will provide free accommodation and meals in the dormitories. A similar process will be followed for African clergy candidates attending seminaries.
- Digitization of the Patriarchate’s Archival Material
The second memorandum, signed between the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the General Secretariat of Religious Affairs, and the General State Archives of Greece, aims to inventory, assess, and digitize the archival material of the Patriarchate.
Welcome by the Patriarch
Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa welcomed Minister Pierrakakis at the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Sabbas in Alexandria. During the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch expressed his joy over the visit and highlighted the harmonious relationship between Greece and Egypt, which collaboratively supports the multifaceted mission of the venerable Patriarchate on the “continent of the future.”
He extended heartfelt thanks to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for their unwavering support. Gratitude was also expressed to the Church of Greece and Archbishop Ieronymos for their continuous assistance in the demanding missionary work across Africa, which remains exclusively under the spiritual and pastoral jurisdiction of the Second Throne Patriarchate.
Historical Significance of the Patriarchal Monastery
The Patriarch referenced the rich history of the Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Sabbas, noting its establishment in 536 AD after the schism between the Alexandrian Church and the Copts. He described it as the “heart” of the Patriarchate, housing relics of saintly predecessors, ascetics, and martyrs. He remarked on the decision in 2007 to continue the tradition of Patriarch Meletios Pegas (1590-1601) by re-establishing the Patriarchal School of Alexandria, “Saint Athanasios,” a two-year institution for African students preparing to serve in ecclesiastical provinces of their homelands.
The Patriarch thanked the Greek government for assigning Greek teachers to the community’s schools in Alexandria.
Token of Gratitude
Concluding the visit, Patriarch Theodore presented Minister Pierrakakis with a sacred icon of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr. He noted that the marble column on which Saint Catherine was martyred is preserved in the Patriarchal Church of Saint Sabbas.
This visit and the signing of the agreements reaffirm the enduring commitment of both Greece and the Patriarchate of Alexandria to the promotion of education, cultural heritage, and spiritual growth in Africa.
