Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos II, Addresses Event Marking the Founding and Operation of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch

‘There is every reason to rejoice in this outward-looking development. Prospective academic collaborations with the University of Cyprus—a public institution of high standing—will undoubtedly prove mutually enriching, and it is society at large, in both Greece and Cyprus, that will ultimately reap the many benefits and achievements that flow from such cooperation. In an uncertain global environment, marked by unprecedented developments and uncharted waters at every level, education and learning will always remain the indispensable condition for any meaningful journey into the future. Young people in Cyprus will now have at their disposal yet another trusted arena in which to test themselves, to excel in research and innovation, to engage critically and creatively with the realities of their lives, to pass knowledge on to future generations, and to attain heights of scientific excellence and moral integrity—qualities of which our world stands in such pressing need’, said, among other things, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos II, in his address at the event marking the founding and operation of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch.

The full address by the Archbishop is below:

‘I warmly welcome the founding and operation of the Cyprus Branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as today’s event marking this significant occasion.

The University of Athens—the oldest and largest higher education institution in Greece—holds a distinguished place in international rankings and has achieved some of its most notable advances in recent years. It engages in substantial research partnerships with leading universities worldwide and maintains a position of intellectual leadership among the educational and research institutions of the Balkan Peninsula. It also occupies a special place in the hearts of all of us who studied there and count ourselves among the fruits of its enduring legacy. That deep personal bond is strengthened by the many Cypriot students who have passed through its lecture halls, and by its Cypriot graduates over the course of two centuries—some of whom have gone on to become prominent figures in public life.

The time has now come for its great academic mission to extend to Cyprus. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch enhances the University’s presence in South-Eastern Europe and further consolidates our ties with the Republic of Cyprus.

There is every reason to rejoice in this outward-looking development. Prospective academic collaborations with the University of Cyprus—a public institution of high standing—will undoubtedly prove mutually enriching, and it is society at large, in both Greece and Cyprus, that will ultimately reap the many benefits and achievements that flow from such cooperation. In an uncertain global environment, marked by unprecedented developments and uncharted waters at every level, education and learning will always remain the indispensable condition for any meaningful journey into the future. Young people in Cyprus will now have at their disposal yet another trusted arena in which to test themselves, to excel in research and innovation, to engage critically and creatively with the realities of their lives, to pass knowledge on to future generations, and to attain heights of scientific excellence and moral integrity—qualities of which our world stands in such pressing need.

I extend my congratulations to all who have contributed to the achievement we celebrate today. I pray that Our Lord Jesus Christ may abundantly bless the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch and guide it in its noble mission’.