MESSAGE from His Eminence the Metropolitan of Syros, Of Tinos, Andros, Keas, Μήλου, Mykonos, Kythnos, Sheriff, Kimolos, Sikinos and Folegandros Mr. DOROTHEOS II to Mr. Professors and Teachers, and the Schoolboys and Schoolgirls of the Islands
at the beginning of the new school year 2013-2014.
Honorable Mr. Educational and my beloved children,
A new school year starts today, under difficult conditions for our Country and each of us separately……
Difficult conditions, where they signal, Nevertheless, and the responsibility of the Educational Community to keep hope alive and unquenchable the flame of humanity, of solidarity, of respect for human dignity, of the universal ideals of Hellenism and the saving truths of Christianity.
It is the flame of education, which will warm our souls with optimism, competitiveness, patience, industriousness, responsibility and creativity, will illuminate the course of our Nation and reveal to us the way out of the current crisis.
We greet today with love and honor all the educators of our Province and, sharing their problems and difficulties, we invite them to listen to the memories and messages of the history of our Nation and the agony of our time and to give our children the message of hope and creation, and we wholeheartedly wish them strength and illumination from God, so that they always experience rich spiritual satisfactions from the sacred and arduous work of educating our children and the foundation of a better future for us.
With paternal affection and love, we turn today also to our beloved students!
My children!
On this beautiful and often tiring journey of yours towards knowledge, you will always have us as a helper and supporter.
Be sure that, attending your classes consistently, patience, persistence and hard work, you will become much better than us!
May the Lord bless your pursuits, to bear fruit in your labors and to protect you from all harm and from all danger.
Happy new year!
Good progress and advancement in Letters and virtue!
