September 1st, 2026, 8:34 am
On the first day of every new school year, in every school in Greece, a special back-to-school blessing ceremony begins.
Parents and children gather in the school yard. Teachers busily prepare a table outside in front of the main school door and cover it with an embroidered tablecloth, onto which are placed a small bowl of water, a bunch of basil and a plate of incense. While teachers gather behind the table, children gather in front of it, with parents behind the children. After a short while, the local priest arrives with a small ornate cross, ornately bound Gospels and an icon of young Jesus learning at Mary’s feet.
Everyone is present. Everything is ready. The priest lights the incense and begins by chanting a short hymn: “Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us . . .” Teachers, students and parents respond in agreement by reverently crossing themselves. The priest continues with chants of petition, praying for enlightenment and protection of students and teachers: “For the teachers and the students of this school . . . . That the Lord our God will send down His blessing.”
After reading a short passage from the Gospels related to learning, the priest proceeds with another chant and petitions God to give all students and teachers of the school the wisdom He gave to the apostles.
A prayer dedicated to education and learning follows: “Lord Jesus Christ, You who are the source of wisdom and knowledge . . . let Your light shine in the hearts of all the teachers and students studying in this school. Enlighten them to seek the truth. . . . Grant them, Lord, understanding. . . . Bless us all, Lord, and especially these children.”
Everyone makes the sign of the cross as the priest finishes the prayer. The chanting starts again. Now it is the hymn: “Save, O Lord, Your people, and bless Your inheritance.” Once again, everyone gathered who agrees with this petition crosses themselves. Still chanting, the priest dips the cross into the bowl of water three times and respectfully lays it on the table. Next, he dips the bunch of basil into the bowl three times. Then the sprinkling starts! The priest keeps dipping the bunch of basil and sprinkling: first the children, then the teachers and later the classrooms.
Lastly, he picks up the cross, brings it to each teacher (anyone who wishes may kiss it) and offers personal wishes to each, saying: “Have a good school year, great progress and divine enlightenment!”
Before you know it, the priest has hastily drunk a glass of cool water offered by one of the teachers and is off to perform the same blessing ceremony at the next school in his parish.
In the hubbub that follows, the meaning of the chants and prayers offered, the smell of incense and the freshness of the sprinkled water slowly dissipate in the heat of the day.
Something unseen, though, lingers behind in every school of Greece: the love of God for each student who has passed through the school gates over the decades of compulsory education, the invitation to become citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, and the pleading of Jesus: “Learn from me . . . and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
“Oh Lord,” I pray, too, “may Your light shine in the hearts of all the teachers and students and parents. Enlighten them to seek you and find Truth and true Wisdom.”
Let us work together with the Lord to bring to His people in Greece the enlightenment for which they pray each new school year on the day of blessing.
