BLESSING FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AT THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE HOLY DIOCESE

On 7 November 2014, His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon, went to Dolisie, where, at the Orthodox Educational Institute “Light of the World”, he conducted the Sanctification service for the beginning of the new school year 2014-2015.

Addressing the 120 pupils of the Primary School of the Holy Diocese of Congo-Brazzaville, he spoke of the importance of education for the spiritual progress and maturity of individuals and, by extension, that of the broader society, stressed the significance of Christ-centered education and passed on the paternal love and prayers of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and Africa, to the teachers and the pupils. He gave everyone sweets and icons.

The construction of the “Light of the World” school began in Dolisie, by blessing of His Beatitude in January 2008 by His Eminence Ignatios, Metropolitan of Central Africa (now of Pentapolis), who on 27 October 2009, conducted the dedication service. Recently the renovations of the school complex were completed, expenses paid by the Friends of the Patriarchate of Alexandria Society, “Bridge of Love”, from Heraklion, Crete, which included the painting of the entire building, the restoration of the destroyed glazing, the electrical installations and the aesthetic improvement of the surroundings with plants. The works continue with the maintenance of the furnishing and the pupils’ desks, and the basketball stadium construction has already begun, the costs being borne by the Holy Diocese.

Note that the school has been officially acknowledged by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education of the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville as an «établissement privé conventionné» (a private institution of specific contract), following the relative Contract signed on 23 August 2013 between the local Orthodox Church and the relative Ministry and involves the provision of multiple legal and other specific benefits to each educational institution owned and operated by the Holy Diocese and operates or will operate in the country’s territory. A similar agreement governs and benefits all the private schools of the Roman Catholic Church in Congo-Brazzaville.

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