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Consecration at the Summer Center for Learning and Artistic Creation in the historic Community of Vlagastranslated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

With the performance of the Consecration service, on Monday July 6, 2026, by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Silivria, Mr. Maximos, the operation of the Summer Learning and Artistic Creation Center for the children of the Omogenia began in the renovated Primary School of Vlagas, an educational institution, a jewel that was waiting for the shoots of the Omogenia to once again declare its presence on the historical path of education in Istanbul.

Present at the Consecration were the principals of Zappeio High School, Mrs. Rika Pantelara and of Zappeio Primary School, Mrs. Eva Kanaris, as well as the mothers of the children, the President and the members of the Community of Vlagas.

The operation of the Summer Center for Learning and Artistic Creation was a product of the cooperation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the Holy Diocese of Neapolis and Stavroupolis.

Following the invitation of the Reverend Mr. Maximos, the Hierarchical Superior of the Vlagas Community, a group of educators from the Diocese of Western Thessaloniki, with the wish of the Reverend Mr. Varnavas, prepared and executed an educational program that harmoniously combined learning with artistic creation.…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Timothy King

Glad the old school building in Vlanga got a fresh start with the summer program. Nice to see teachers from Thessaloniki come all the way to help combine lessons and art for the kids. Hope the little ones had fun on that first day.

Олег Васильев

It's good that the old school building in Vlange has come to life again. It’s nice that teachers from Thessaloniki came and created a program with lessons and creativity. I hope the children didn't get bored on the first day.

Величка Тодорова

I am glad that the renovated school in Vlanga is again filled with children. It is good that the teachers from Thessaloniki came specially and mixed the lessons with drawing and needlework. I hope that our mothers from Burgas will be able to send their children to such a thing someday.

Samuel Anderson

The old school in Vlanga getting fixed up and filled with kids again sounds like a real win. Nice that teachers came from Thessaloniki under Metropolitan Barnabas to mix regular lessons with art projects. Hope it keeps going strong through the summer.

Полина Иванова

It’s good that the school in Vlanga has been renovated and opened again for children. It’s nice that teachers from Thessaloniki came at the invitation of Metropolitan Maxim and combined lessons with creativity, as in our summer knitting group. I hope the kids not only drew, but also remembered something useful for the whole year.

Emily Baker

Glad the old Vlanga school got that renovation and kicked off with the Agiasmos on July 6th. Nice that the teachers from Thessaloniki mixed regular lessons with art projects, and that the Zappeio principals and all the moms showed up too. Hope the kids come home with some good drawings or crafts to show off.

Ioana Popa

I'm glad that they had a gathering on July 6 and that the teachers from Thessalonica came to combine the lessons with drawing and needlework. It's nice that the mothers came along with the directors from Zappeio. I hope that my boy will also catch such a program next summer, because he loves to paint like crazy.

Basil Young

The Agiasmos on July 6th in that renovated Vlanga schoolhouse sounds like a solid start. Good to see the Thessaloniki teachers blending regular lessons with art under Metropolitan Maximos and Barnabas. Hope the kids come home with more than just paintings.

Timothy Johnson

Yeah, it's good to see the old Vlanga school building back in use like that. The bit about the teachers from Thessaloniki coming over under Metropolitan Barnabas to blend lessons with art projects is what stood out to me too — practical way to keep the kids engaged. Hope the families stick with it through the heat.

Anna Wilson

Glad the Thessaloniki teachers brought that mix of lessons and art projects — my niece did something similar last summer and the kids still talk about the painted icons they made. Hope the Vlanga moms keep volunteering; it always makes the whole thing feel more like family. Did any of the drawings get put up around the school?

Sarah Scott

The renovation really turned that old building around — I remember seeing photos of it before, and now it sounds like a proper gem again. The art-and-lessons combo is smart; my son always focuses better when he gets to paint or build something after the Greek worksheets. Did the kids start with any traditional Byzantine patterns this time, or was it more free-form?