Opening of the First Orthodox Missionary School in Zimbabwe

A historic milestone was reached in Zimbabwe with the official opening of the first Orthodox Missionary School on 1 February 2010 at the St. Nektarios Missionary Centre in Harare.

The school, envisioned as part of the Church’s growing mission in Africa, had been formally inaugurated in May 2009 by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. Its construction was made possible through the efforts of the Agios Kosmas Aetolian Missionary Society of Thessaloniki, led by Mr. George Aslanidis, and with assistance from the Republic of Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Named in memory of the missionary Hieromonk Kosmas Grigoriates, the institution welcomed 210 students in its first year, guided by a dedicated team of five teachers under the leadership of Father Augustine Moketsi, the school’s first principal.

The opening day was marked with a blessing service, attended by church leaders, diplomatic representatives, educators, and parents. Among the guests was the High Commissioner of Cyprus in South Africa, Ambassador Argyris Antoniou, who addressed the students, encouraged them to pursue knowledge with dedication, and offered gifts to the children.

This initiative reflects the commitment of the Orthodox Church in Zimbabwe to combine spiritual guidance with education, offering opportunities to young people while strengthening the mission’s role in community development.