The closing ceremony of the Sunday Schools of the Holy Diocese of Demetrias was successfully held (15/5) in the Open Municipal Theatre of Nea Ionia, for this missionary year.

In the presence of His Eminence Mr Ignatius of Demetrias, a lot of Clergymen and hosts of parents and children, the youth of our Local Church, presented a wonderful program, starting with the Youth Byzantine Choir of the School of Byzantine Music of the Holy Diocese. Efstathios Grammenos, who is a chanter in the Metropolitan Church of Saint Nicholas in Volos, was the choir master, while the event was welcomed by the young people of the Youth Office of the Diocese, along with the Sunday School children.

Next, the Youth Choir 'Demetrias', consisting of children of the 10^th Primary School of Nea Ionia, in Aliveri under the auspices of the Holy Diocese, presented a musical program, directed by Mr Vaggelis Badellas.

Afterwards, the children of Sunday Schools of the Metropolitan Church of St Nicholas and the Church of St Vasileios in Volos, shared a usual day of the Sunday School with people, i.e. how the lesson is done, while the dance groups of the parishes of the Churches of Ascension of Christ in Volos, the Holy Trinity in Volos, St Spyridon in Nea Ionia, St Prodromos in Anakasia, the Entry of the most Holy Theotokos in Ano Volos, St George in Agria, and Birth of Theotokos in Fitoko.                                                          

Then, His Eminence Mr Ignatius of Demetrias gave a speech and expressed his pleasure since 'what we experience today is the crown of a great effort, made throughout the year for our youth...'.His Eminence praised the work being done in the Schools of Byzantine Music and Hagiography, he also referred to the Local Church's efforts to socialize the Roma and put emphasis on the Youth work of the Diocese, which is supported through exceptional and quality contemporary editions for our Sunday School children. He highlighted that 'although catechesis is a work of the Church, we wish that school and family will contribute to it as well'. Moreover, he underlined the value of Tradition, which is preserved on Sunday Schools, the value of the Orthodox Faith and Hellenism- an invaluable treasure needed to be preserved at any cost at these difficult times. This tradition unites us as a nation, it is our heritage... Our children get the right skills and abilities in order to have an authentic life'. In the end, Ignatius asked parents to send their children to the summer camps in Agios Lavrentios, praising the work done there for decades and closed his speech by thanking the organizers of the festival, and the head of the event, the Youth Office Manager of the Holy Diocese, Archimandrite Kallinikos Georgakopoulos.

The event ended with a play about our tradition, presented by the members of the Youth Office, in co-operation with the children from our Sunday Schools.

On the previous day (14/5), the closing ceremony of the Sunday Schools of Almyros and Nea Anchialos Prelatic Areas took place, for the missionary year 2015-2016, in the facilities of 111 Combat Wing in Nea Anchialos Air Base.