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Righteous Joachim and Anna · Ven. Joseph of Volotsk
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"A Greece that is alarmingly aging..."translated

September 7, 2026 · 1 min read

His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras With the start of the new school year, both the Ministry of Education and the local Education Authorities found out that the number of students has decreased significantly and this can be seen from the enrollments in the first grade of the Primary School. From the introduction of students to the first grade each year, the School's progress can be seen in the future, in terms of the number of students.

In Western Greece, this year, according to what was written in a local newspaper (Peloponnisos 22-23 August 2026) and according to, as noted, what the Regional Director of Western Greece said, we have 20% fewer students. The new school year in Achaia, Aetoloakarnania and Ilia begins with 600 students less than last year. Unfortunately, the reality is disappointing and extremely worrying. In many cases, departments are merged, but schools are also closed. Because we have direct and continuous communication both with the great city of Patras and with the countryside, we note with pain of soul that we live in a Greece which is constantly shrinking, shrinking, aging. I don't dare to open my mouth and note the time he is dying. I have...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency  ·  Read the full story →
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Daniel Wilson
It's sad to read those numbers—600 fewer first-graders just in our region this year. My cousin in Patras told me their neighborhood school is merging two classes because of it. We really need to think about why young families aren't having kids or are leaving.
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