On Sunday, September 14, 2025, the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, an Archieratical Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of the Archangel within the premises of the Metropolis of Zambia, presided over by Metropolitan Ioannis of Zambia.
The ceremony was attended by the Education Coordinator for Sub-Saharan Africa from the Consulate General of Greece in Johannesburg, Georgios Vlachos; the Honorary Consul of Greece in Lusaka, Zambia, Michail Kroupinik; the teacher from the Hellenic Community School (TEG) of Lusaka, Rania Tsirigoti; as well as students.
Also present were the 20 prospective students who will travel to Greece as the second group under the scholarship program for Primary and Secondary Education students, implemented by the Holy Metropolis of Zambia and Mozambique in cooperation with the Holy Metropolis of Fthiotida. After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was celebrated, Metropolitan Ioannis welcomed Mr. Vlachos and conveyed the wishes and blessings of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa.
Furthermore, he thanked Mr. Vlachos for his active interest in the Greek community and the Metropolis of Zambia, as well as in the other African countries.
Subsequently, a blessing ceremony (agiasmos) was held in the school hall, within the Metropolis grounds, to mark the beginning of the new school year.
The teacher welcomed the Education Coordinator and wished the students a fruitful and creative school year. Mr. Vlachos, in turn, conveyed the greetings of the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Ms. Zacharaki, wishing them progress and strength. He also highlighted the value of the Greek language and Hellenism, emphasizing that he would be at our disposal to support efforts to preserve and promote the Greek language and culture, for individuals of both Greek and non-Greek origin. Metropolitan Ioannis thanked the teacher for her dedication and wished for a productive year of health and progress.
Following this, he announced the initiatives that the Metropolis of Zambia will undertake in the near future, concerning the promotion of the Greek-Christian tradition, as well as the Greek language and culture.
A meeting then took place with the Honorary Consul, Michail Kroupinik, the Education Coordinator, and the teacher, to discuss matters related to teaching the Greek language. Parents, children, and guests of the mission participated in the Lenten meal provided by the Metropolis.
