HIS BEATITUDE CONFERS TITLES ON PATRIARCHAL SCHOOL GRADUATES IN JORDAN
On Friday, the 16th/29th of May 2015, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, visited Jordan.
On the east side of the Jordan River Bridge, His Beatitude was welcomed by Archimandrite Ieronymos, hegoumen in Fhes.
From there, His Beatitude was driven to the Metropolis of Philadelphia, in Amman, for lunch hosted by Metropolitan Benedictus of Philadelphia.
On the afternoon of the same day, the Patriarch attended the graduation ceremony of the Patriarchate’s schools in Jordan, namely in Amman, Fhes, Zarqa and Madaba, in order to confer titles on 250 graduates.
The ceremony was organized by Archimandrites Innocentius and Artemios, and by the schools’ vice-principal, Mr Edward Smerat. It began with the welcoming of the Patriarch by the Boy Scouts, Archimandrite Innocentius, Mr Smerat, Archimandrite Artemios, priests in Jordan parishes and distinguished personalities.
After Jordan’s National Anthem was heard, the graduates paraded in the presence of His Beatitude, Mr Saleh Salayle, Jordan’s deputy Minister of Education and Culture, their teachers and parents.
Mr Smerat went on to congratulate the graduates and also thanked the Patriarchate for providing moral and material support to its schools in Jordan.
Representatives of the graduates spoke in French, English and Arabic. Highlights from student activities during the 2014-2015 school year were shown on screen.
The Patriarch’s speech was read in Arabic by f. Issa Mousleh.
After the speech, His Beatitude awarded diplomas on all graduates, wishing them success in their studies and professional careers.
From the Secretariat-General