How is the environment combined with religion and education? This is the matter we discussed with the 60 students of the 3rd Gymnasium of Nea Ionia. The children, through their educational visit to the Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece at the Holy Monastery of Pendeli, were informed about issues related to the environment, and more specifically, they were given the opportunity to delve deeper into the responsibility of mankind towards the mystery of Creation, as witnessed in our Orthodox Church. We also gave them the special opportunity to talk with representatives from different religious communities and about what stance other religious traditions take on the same issue. In particular, the Rabbi of Athens, Mr. Gabriel Negrin, the Responsalis of the Anglican Church in Athens, Rev. F. Benjamin Djury, as well as the President of the Ahmadiyya community in Greece Imam Atta-Ul Naseer – National President at Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Greece. The religious representatives were received by the Director of the Interorthodox Cente, his Emminence Metropolitan of Thermopylae Mr. Ioannis and discussed issues on how humanity can present inter-religious social solidarity nowadays.
Subsequently, the team of the Interorthodox Centre, together with the students and the representatives of other religious traditions, exchanged views on the deeper spiritual dimension of the modern ecological crisis. Through this educational action, we all had the special opportunity to talk and listen one another, discovering that caring for the environment is essentially a common value and a common calling of the entire world.
Under these circumstances, matters also related to the protection of the environment from fires were also raised, as well as the importance of everyone’s voluntary contribution in dealing with these severe phenomena in our days. In collaboration with the members of the volunteer squad of the Pendeli Fire Department, Mrs. Meropi Kapetanopoulou and Mr. Dimitris Nasiotis presented to the children the work of the squad and the importance of volunteering in relation to the contribution to fellow humans and the environment. At this point, we wish to express our gratitude and undivided thanks to the Commander of the 12th Fire Station of Pallini, Deputy Chief Mr. Nikolaos Vlachogiannis and the Head of the volunteer squad of the Pendeli Fire Department, Deputy Chief Mr. Nikolaos Liakos.
Finally, the students, accompanied by their teachers, Mrs. Kyriaki Mantellou, Director, Mrs. Vasso Kolovou, Physical Education teacher, Mr. Stavros Terzis, theologian and Mr. Evangelos Tatsis, Technology teacher, carried out a symbolic, but deeply meaningful act: the planting of trees in the fire-stricken area of the Holy Monastery of Pendeli, as a sign of hope, memory and regeneration. The tree planting was carried out thanks to the kind offer and help of Mr. Konstantinos Strampi, whom we also warmly thank. This educational action, which was related to many and essential issues, was carried out in collaboration with the Symplexis organization and is part of the European InterMu-Se program. Protecting our world is an act of faith, responsibility and hope.
