Commencement of Events celebrating the OAC’s 50th year

     On Friday, October 13, 2017, the anniversary of the inauguration of the Orthodox Academy of Crete (OAK), the Foundation officially opened its celebrations for the 50th anniversary of its foundation, in a climate of strong emotions and nostalgic reminiscence.

     In the morning, the Divine Liturgy was conducted by His Eminence the Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selinon, President of the Academy. It was celebrated in the Holy Chapel dedicated to the Saints Cyril and Methodius, Apostles of the Slavs, with the participation of the vicar of Agia Marina Kolympari, the Reverend Dionysios Ntaountakis and Deacon Chrysanthos Tsakakis, from the Holy Monastery of Gonia.

     In his sermon, His Eminence emphasised that life itself emanates from the holy sanctuary of the church and that the Orthodox Academy of Crete is a holy mission in which everyone can come together for the purpose of social dialogue. He then thanked the staff of the OAC and its General Director, Dr. Konstantinos Zorbas, who took over in this historic moment to prepare for the transition and continued presence of the Academy in the next 50 years. At the same time, His Eminence Amphilochios made a brief historical reference to the life of the founder of the OAC, the late Metropolitan Eirinaios Galanakis, as well his fellow founder, Dr Alexandros Papaderos, whom he thanked for his great contribution. He expressed his hopes that the Foundation would continue to carry out its missionary work and to bear witness to life in the modern world.  

     The General Director of the OAC then thanked His Eminence for his unflagging support of the Foundation, as well as old and new staff members, absent and present. Dr Zorbas stressed that the present moment is an historic one and that the responsibility is great. At the same time, he expressed his thanks to the local community for its support over the years and referred to the love and care of the Holy Mother and Great Church of Christ, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in expectation of the happy day of His blessing during the celebratory events of the Academy in 2018.

     Dr. Alexandros Papaderos, old and new members of staff of the Foundation, and a team from the German Evangelical Church in the Hessen-Nassau region, who were at the OAK as part of a training seminar of its members attended a workshop in the field of education for children, young people and the family.

     The Orthodox Academy of Crete celebrates its 50th anniversary with a series of events called “50 Years - 50 Conferences - 50 Stories" (including educational programs, meetings, etc.) that will last for the entire academic year 2017-2018 and invites all its friends to participate, depending on their particular interests. It will be an honour for the Foundation to have them join us.