On 30th September 2012, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, conducted the Service of Sanctification immediately after the Divine Liturgy at the “St Athanasios” Patriarchal Academy of Alexandria for the start of the new Academic year, 2012-2013.
During his brief address His Beatitude gave advice and blessings to the African students, whom he assure that he would personally be there for their further course and their future priestly service, after their graduation and their return to their places of birth. He also thanked the Dean, Archimandrite Narkissos Gamo and the teachers for their industrious and conscientious service.
The historic Patriarchal Academy was reinstituted by His Beatitude during the Academic year 2007-2008 after 470 years, in order to produce indigenous staff for the missionary efforts of the Patriarchal Throne. During the two-year cycle of studies, the students who come from various African countries and have full scholarships from the Patriarchate, attend courses in Theology, nursing, tropical climate agronomy, information technology, education as well as Greek language.
