On October 8, 2023, the Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Saint Sava the Consecrated of Alexandria, after which he performed the Sanctification service at the Patriarchal School of Alexandria “Saint Athanasios”, at the beginning of the new academic year 2023-2024.
During his brief speech, the Patriarch addressed paternal admonitions and blessings to the young African students, whom he assured that he would personally take care of their further course and their future priestly ministry, after their graduation and their return to their native lands.
He also thanked the Head of the School, Archbishop Isaac Tsapoglou and the professors for their diligent and conscientious service to the students, “who are the future of our Church in the continent of the future, the continent of Orthodoxy, the long-suffering Africa”, as the Patriarch stressed.
The Sanctification service was attended by Bishop Narcissus of Pelusium, Patriarchal Commissioner of Alexandria and Tamiathus Germanos, Head of the Monastery of Saint Sava, Captain of the Hellenic Navy Konstantinos Varouxis, liaison of the Greek Navy with the Egyptian Navy, teachers, presidents and representatives of Greek associations and institutions of the Holy City.
It is noted that the historic Patriarchal School of Alexandria was re-established during the academic year 2007-2008, after 470 years, in order to bring out the indigenous cadres of the missionary work of the Patriarchal Throne. During the two-year course of study, the students, who come from various African countries and are fully scholarship holders of the Patriarchate, attend courses in theology, nursing, tropical agriculture, computer science, pedagogy, and Greek language.
