BAY RIDGE – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America visited the Dimitrios & Georgia Kaloidis Parochial School in Bay Ridge on October 13. The students greeted him with a bouquet and a banner that read "Welcome to our school."

Archbishop Elpidophoros spoke with the teachers, emphasizing how much importance he attaches to the schools of the Greek Diaspora and to Greek education throughout the United States, making special reference to the 200 years since the Greek Revolution "which we will celebrate next year. A revolution that took place after 400 years of slavery. And our nation managed to keep its identity thanks to education. So how do we celebrate 200 years if we do not pay attention to our schools and our culture? And the Church knows how to do this very well as it did then. But we have to do it even more and better."

Afterwards, the Archbishop presided over the blessing in the school gym and spoke to the students.

Archbishop Elpidophoros visited the Dimitrios & Georgia Kaloidis Parochial School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. (Photo: TNH/ Zafeiris Haitidis)

"You all have laptops and tablets. But what do you need? Electricity. The same with school. You have the teachers, but you also need the strength. So remember that whatever you do in your life, if you do not have the power you will not get where you want. And that is why we perform the blessing for you today. To bless the school and the year to have the blessing of God. This is our strength. You are always under the shadow of the Cross, as is the church of your community and you always have Father Gerasimos [Makris] by your side,"

The students of Dimitrios & Georgia Kaloidis Parochial School in Bay Ridge sang during Archbishop Elpidophoros’ visit. (Photo: TNH/ Zafeiris Haitidis)

Then, the students of the choir sang the songs "Tzivaeri" and "Geia sou Kyrie Menexe" for the Archbishop. His Eminence was moved by the performance and said to the children, "You made me sing with you," while he asked them if they know what the word "tzivaeri" means. On guitar, they were accompanied by Greek dance and music teacher, Konstantinos Stergioulis.

The Agiasmos was attended by, among others, the Director of Education of the Archdiocese of America Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis, Federation of Hellenic-American Educators President Stella Kokolis, and Archon James Vavas.