The School ceremony for the National Anniversary of 28 October 1940, at the Patriarchal School of Zion

On Monday afternoon, October 15/28, 2024, the School ceremony took place in the ceremonial hall of the Patriarchal School of Zion in honour of the national anniversary of 28 October 1940.

This celebration was organised by the school’s Managing Director, the Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Matthaios, in collaboration with the School’s teachers and students.

The Patriarchal Commissioner, His Eminence Metropolitan Hesychios of Capitolias, the Chairman of the School Board, His Eminence Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, and other Holy Fathers and members of the Greek Parish, monks, and nuns, honoured this holiday with their presence.

The program included the speech of the day by the teacher Mr Eustathios Toumanis, recitation of poems by the students, performances of patriotic songs, and excerpts and recitation in Greek of the epic era of 1940 distinguished writers.

Among these, the persecutions of the Greek people during the years of World War II under the Italian and German conquerors; the exiles, the desertions and the wiping out of villages, the impoverishment due to hunger, and the deaths of children, young people and the elderly, the humanitarian aid to the wounded captives, along with the group executions of innocent Greeks were presented on the screen. There also were videos of the strong resistance of the brave fighting Greek heroes who, with the participation of the elderly, young and women, expelled the occupying yoke.

The representative of His Beatitude, the Patriarchal Commissioner His Eminence Metropolitan Hesychios of Capitolias spoke on behalf of His Beatitude as follows:

“Your Excellency Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos,

Your Eminence, Chairman of the School Board,

Your Grace, Managing Director of the school,

Reverend Fathers,

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

Dear students of our Patriarchal School,

Today is a bright and glorious day, as we celebrate the Greek peoples’ “No”, as a response to the Italian fascist forces, who sought the abolition of our national sovereignty. The Greek people, “in one mouth and one heart” replied heroically, not just in words, but also in action, along with the mobilization of all people, to defend the national sovereignty and safeguard the God-given freedom, according to the words of the apostle Paul: “Stand therefore in the freedom with which Christ has set us free, and do not be yoked to slavery again.”

The Hellenic Christian conscience of the Greek people demonstrated its unshakable faith in the Holy Triune God and its trust in Our Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, Whose holy name, each soldier unceasingly pronounced, drawing from it strength for the continuation of the holy struggle. The epic of 1940 abounds with testimonies of the miraculous interventions of our Lady the Theotokos, Who, like a holy cloud, overshadowed Her faithful children.

Hence, this evening we came to the Patriarchal School, to enjoy the tribute of honour of our beloved students to all those who offered themselves as noetic holocausts on the altar of national independence and freedom of our blessed nation.

On behalf of His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theofilos III, we express our sincere gratitude to the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, for his presence herein, and his variously expressed interest in our Patriarchal School.

We also thank His Eminence, Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, the Chairman of the School Board, for his assistance to our School, the Managing Director of the school, Reverend Archimandrite Matthaios for the smooth operation of the School, the teachers and of course the students, who toiled for this pleasing event!

Let us exclaim:

Long live the “No” of October 28, 1940!

Long live the pious race of the Rum Orthodox!

Long live Greece!

Long live our Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood!

In the end, His Eminence and the Consul General Mr Angelosopoulos thanked the Managing director, the teachers and the students for the success of the ceremony which evoked feelings of national pride, unity and bravery with our ancestors’ example.

From the General Secretariat

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem