Archbishop Ieronymos II Blesses the New Academic Year as Rector Siasos Addresses the University Community

The new academic year has got under way at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with the traditional blessing ceremony, led by His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece. This is the fourth consecutive year in which His Beatitude has led the ceremony, with the Rector and Vice-Rectors, members of the Administration Council and the University Senate, as well as teaching and administrative staff in attendance.

Welcoming His Beatitude, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the University of Athens, thanked him for once again joining the University community to mark the start of the academic year and for giving his blessing. He also spoke of the significant and wide-ranging work of the Church of Greece and the Archbishop’s personal commitment. Professor Siasos highlighted His Beatitude’s long-standing ties with the University, noting that he is a graduate of both the Department of Philology and the Department of Theology and holds an Honorary Doctorate from the School of Theology.

Professor Siasos also reflected on a number of the University’s recent achievements, noting that the 2026–2027 academic year marks the 190^th anniversary of its foundation. The anniversary will be celebrated throughout the year with a programme of special events. The Rector went on to highlight the University’s growing partnerships with leading universities and academic institutions around the world, the successful launch of the Cyprus Branch, and the €130 million donation from Greece’s four major banks, which will support the modernisation of the University’s facilities. He also noted that the number of teaching staff recruited over the past three years has doubled, further strengthening the University’s teaching and research capacity.

Addressing the Rector and Vice-Rectors, the Administration Council and the University Senate, as well as the teaching and administrative staff, His Beatitude emphasised the central role of education in society, particularly in shaping the lives and prospects of younger generations. He wished the entire University community a successful and rewarding academic year, marked by creativity, achievement and good health. The Archbishop also spoke warmly of his return to the University, where he studied, recalling his student years with particular affection and noting that he continues to cherish those memories.

Message from Rector Professor Gerasimos Siasos for the New Academic Year

The new academic year begins with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens at a particularly significant moment in its long history, as it marks 190 years of uninterrupted teaching and scholarship. The University’s 190^th anniversary is a landmark in the history of modern Greece and an important milestone for the country’s first university – an institution whose history is inseparable from the intellectual and cultural development of modern Greece, the advancement of science, and the enduring values of education, knowledge and service to society.

The University’s sustained commitment to educational quality, academic excellence and innovative research is evident in its growing international standing. The University of Athens is now ranked among the world’s top 200 universities, reflecting its international profile and long-standing contribution to the advancement of knowledge and scholarship.

This international recognition is, above all, a testament to the quality, hard work and dedication of everyone who is part of our academic community. It is the result of a collective and sustained effort, but it also places an even greater responsibility on us to move forward with determination and purpose, strengthening our commitment to excellence and innovation while further enhancing our international presence.

At the same time, the University of Athens continues to broaden its international outlook through academic partnerships with leading institutions around the world. The launch of the Cyprus Branch represents another historic and strategically important step in the University’s internationalisation, deepening our links with Cyprus and opening up new opportunities for education, research and academic collaboration across Europe and Asia.

In this anniversary year, the University of Athens assumes the Presidency of the Hellenic Universities Rectors’ Conference, a role of particular importance for the future of higher education in Greece. In this role, we will contribute to meaningful debate on the future of universities in Greece. With a commitment to evidence, constructive dialogue and a clear sense of purpose, we will address the challenges facing higher education and research, and explore the opportunities ahead, while supporting education, advancing knowledge and serving the academic community.

As the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens celebrates its 190^th anniversary, we continue our shared endeavour with a strong sense of responsibility, unity and determination. Together, we are building an even greater, more outward-looking and internationally recognised university – one at the forefront of education and research and firmly committed to serving society and the country.

I wish the entire academic community a successful academic year.

Gerasimos Siasos

Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

President of the Hellenic Universities Rectors’ Conference

Photos: Dimitris Konstantinidis