On Friday, May 20, 2022, Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria, as President of the Educational Directorate for Orthodox Religious Education, went to Salzburg where he inaugurated the new offices of the local Consultant of the Educational Directorate for Orthodox Religious Education Course, which were kindly provided by the local School Administration in the premises of Borromäum.
The Consultant, Mr. Paschal Archimandritis, will have his headquarters in these premises in order to coordinate the work of the Orthodox teachers of the region.
After the consecration, the Metropolitan thanked Dr. Erwin Konjeci, the local School Director, as well as the School Supervisor Mag. Olivier Dantine for the friendly support and the good cooperation of all the School Directorates and emphasized that the religious education course actively contributes to the transmission of the Christian Faith in Austria for the benefit of the youth and Austrian society in general.
At the beginning of the educational seminar, Metropolitan Arsenios addressed the participants with a pastoral greeting and presented the general framework of the topics on the agenda with spiritual speeches. The first presentation of the priest Associate Professor Dr. Ioan Moga on “Interpersonal relationships and sexuality: Theological Perspectives from an Orthodox Point of View” was followed by an exchange of views on the topic in the context of the religious education course.
Afterwards, Dr. Auer-Crisenaz from the legal department of the Educational Directorate of Salzburg presented the guidelines and basic principles that should govern proper behaviour during the religious education course in Austrian schools. The Metropolitan, the Consultants, the Teachers and the lecturers participated in a lively discussion on the subject.
Concluding the Seminar, Metropolitan Arsenios thanked those present for their attendance and active participation and stressed that both he and the Consultants were at the disposal of the teachers for advice and problem solving. He also urged them to continue working with high motivation and vigour in pursuit of excellent spiritual and educational support for the students.
