The education of the younger generation has always been one of the main goals contributed by Archbishop Anastasios throughout the years. One of his first acts as Patriarchal Exarch was the opening of a school for the clergy, so that they would have the appropriate level of education to face the challenges of the time and remain in Albania for their education. Since that time, opened a number of centers for education have been opened, ranging from preschool, to the pre-university and university, always with his kind of special care and way of creating opportunities.
On September 15, the education process also began for the institution of the pre-university programs established by our Church. The first doors opened for 21st Kindergarten for children in Tirana. The kindergarten began in new modern premises, close to the “Protagonist” school, an investment that has increased the capacity of children, because there were so many requests, and has also created an excellent environment for youngsters. This also created the possibility of an additional new preschool classroom.
All the schools are equipped with qualified staff and have all the classrooms, sports facilities and facilities necessary for the development of a quality learning program. In all the schools, the students are provided with books and teaching tools. The numerous requests for enrollment show the rising level of popularity, and so many requests are not accepted because of lack of space. A testimony to the level of teaching is also the high results that the students have had in the graduation exams; such as the result of the student Ledio Karaj, of the Church’s “Holy Cross” High School in Sukth, who got a 99.9 point in the history test, and was the best in the country. Also the students of high professional school, “Apostle Paul”, in Mesapotam, were the best in the mathematics exam for the southeast area of the country.
The new school year began also for the children and young students who attend the educational institutions that Archbishop Anastasios has established and supports in the area of the Holy Metropolis of Gjirokastra. Their good performance has already built trust with the local communities and therefore the number of families who entrust their children’s education to the preschool institutions, nine year schools and to the high schools of the “Spirit of Love” Foundation in Gjirokastra is increasing year after year. The Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, after the Divine Liturgy conducted in the chapel of the “Holy Cross” High School, which also had the feast one day before led the Service of Blessing the Water and spoke to the students, teachers and all those present, conveying also the greetings, wishes and encouragements of His Beatitude.
Across the country again the doors were opened to host the students of these pre-university education institutions open by our Church: the 9-year school and the lyceum Albanian – American “Protagonists”, in Tirana; two 9-year Albanian – Greek schools, “Spirit of Love”, near the church of St. George, in Durrës and Gjirokastra; the church high schools “Holy Cross” in Gjirokastra and Sukth, in Durrës, the secondary professional high schools, “Apostle Paul”, in the village Mesopotam of Delvina.
