Primary and secondary schools opened throughout Greece on Monday, with the customary blessing ceremony to inaugurate the new academic year. Pupils and educators are required to wear masks while in classes, while school premises will be repeatedly disinfected. Each pupil was handed two masks and a a new canteen for drinking water or beverages, as water fountains have been sealed.
On his part, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos attended the beginning-of-the year blessing ceremony at the Annunciation of the Theotokos nursery school in the Dilesi township, due north of Athens.
In a highly symbolic visit and itinerary, Greek President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, attended the first day of school on the small island of Kastellorizo on Monday, having first attended a doxology service at the Sts. Constantine and Helen cathedral on the isle. The island lies two miles off Asia Minor coast and is the southeastern most part of Greece.