Greece's Education Minister Visits Patriarchate of Alexandria to Bolster Cultural and Educational Initiatives

Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Greece’s Minister for Education, Religious Affairs, and Sport, visited the Patriarchate of Alexandria on Sunday to announce new measures supporting clergy serving the Greek diaspora and to strengthen ties between Greece and the Patriarchate.

Pierrakakis revealed that the Greek government will secure the salary, insurance, and pension rights of clergy members who serve the Greek diaspora worldwide. He emphasised this as a recognition of their selfless dedication.

During the visit, two memorandums of cooperation were signed, reflecting the Greek government’s commitment to preserving Hellenic heritage and ensuring access to modern Greek education. The agreements aim to promote Greek knowledge and cultural values in a 21st-century context, making education more accessible to the diaspora.

Pierrakakis also highlighted the digitisation and cataloging of the Patriarchate’s historical archives, a project led by Greece’s General Archives of the State. Additionally, he noted the opportunity for students from schools across Africa to study in Greece's Ecclesiastical Schools.

“This is our contribution, another small stone, to the over-thousand-year presence and contribution of the Patriarchate of Alexandria,” said Pierrakakis. He praised the Greek community of Alexandria as a “support and life force for Hellenism in Africa.”

The minister’s visit and announcements underscore Greece's dedication to preserving its cultural and spiritual legacy abroad while fostering modern educational opportunities.