On Saturday evening, May 8/21, 2022, the graduation ceremony of ‘Saint George’ School of the Patriarchate took place in Ramallah.
The ceremony was held at the reception hall in a town hotel with the honorary presence of H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, who was accompanied by Geronda Secretary-General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Priest Issa Mousleh, Archimandrite Galaktion, Priest Stephen from the Church of Greece, the President of the Palestinian State committee on Religious Affairs Mr Ramzi Chouri, the Manageress of his office Mrs Hane Amire, His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, the President of the West Bank Schools of the Patriarchate Mr Ode Kaouas, the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras, representatives from the Ministry of Labour of the Palestinian Autonomy, the thirty three graduates along with their parents and others.
The ceremony began with the Palestinian National Anthem, followed by the Greek National Anthem, a hymn for the recently murdered Palestinian martyr Shireen Abu Akleh, His Beatitude’s welcome, the Gospel reading according to Saint Mathew “ you are the light of the world’ and a narrative from Saint Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians, a reading from the Quran, the Schools hymn, and finally the baton’s handing over from the graduates of the School year 2021-2022 to the last class of 2000-2023.
Consequently the School Principle Mr Jelal Muhaison spoke, underlining the important educational mission of the School, which is proven by the number of the graduates who enter Universities and also mentioned the moral and material support of the Patriarchate in this mission.
The honorary calling of the students who excelled with grades 98,50/100 followed, the address of the students in the Arabic and English languages, Palestinian songs and traditional Palestinian dances and the hymn of the Palestinian martyr who were this school’s graduate in 2016, Tamara Abu Leyle.
The ceremony concluded with His Beatitude’s address, read by Fr Issa Mousleh, stressing that this year, the 18th of the School’s operation is dedicated to Shireen Abu Akleh.
After the reading of the address, His Beatitude was offered a bouquet of flowers and He handed the titles to each of the graduates, wishing them all the best for success, career and higher education studies.
Finally there was honorary mention and giving of honorary board to those distinguished in teaching and especially to the parents of Shireen Abu Akleh, as well as a speech for her, which was delivered by the Al Jazeera representative, Fayez Abu Samir.
From Secretariat-General