The historic Zografie Lyceum of Constantinople, a beacon of Greek education for 132 years, has been shielded against a possible major earthquake in the coming years, for which seismologists express concern.

For this purpose, during the summer, the last two floors that were subsequently added to the original neoclassical building of 1893 and burdened its stability were demolished, according to a study by a group of experts of the National Technical University of Athens. The two extra floors had been added in 1962, when Hellenism in the city was booming and the school had over 700 students.

They were demolished in a short period of time and the roof of the building was reshaped and the school was ready to welcome its students in September. The building returned to its original form, as designed by the architect Periklis Fotiadis, and the safety of the students and teachers was ensured, while now the way is being opened for the second phase of the school’s total renovation.

The completion of the projects was made possible thanks to the offer of the Hellenic Banking Union and the Thanasis and Marina Martinou Foundation – as well as the continuous support of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 15, the inauguration took place in the school premises, on the occasion of the completion of the first phase of the renovation works, in the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

In his short greeting, Mr. Bartholomeos referred to the rapid completion of the first phase of the works and reminded that the concern of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the education of the Genus has been uninterrupted throughout time.

“The Great Church literally “saved” our spiritual, cultural and linguistic identity, in difficult times, with the establishment and operation of schools and academies, with the invitation and hiring of wise teachers, with the promotion of door-to-door education and Christ-like education, but also through the educational and transformational work, which is carried out with the life of the Church, with divine worship, the ethos of freedom in Christ and good witness in the world” said the Ecumenical Patriarch.

The Patriarch also made a personal reference to his own student years, as he was a student of Painting in the 1st and 2nd High School, he commemorated the blessed director of the school Dimitrios Fragopoulos, “whose name is inextricably linked to the modern history of educational matters in our City” and congratulated the current high school principal Yiannis Demirtzoglou and the students “for their participation and contribution to the success of the many fine activities of the Painting”

In his address, Professor Gikas Hardouvelis, representing the Hellenic Banks’ Union, visibly moved by the reception he received from the diaspora, recalled the award of Zografio by the Academy of Athens in 2023, mentioned the founder of the school, Christakis Zografos, also a banker from Epirus, and pointed out that Zografio is deeply rooted in the Greek consciousness, having at the same time respect for the local educational process, constituting a bridge between the two peoples, as its courses are offered by Greek and Turkish teachers.

“Today, with our own donation, we also contribute to the school’s long-standing activity so that it continues not only its educational but also its cultural activity, as it organizes on an annual basis the International Student Literature Conference, which has been held since 2012 under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarch, with the participation of students from four continents and selected representatives of letters and the arts,” he said, among other things.

In conclusion, Mr. Hardouvelis assured that the Hellenic Bank Association will always be a helper next to Zografieo and announced that the next act of support will be the donation of a bus for the transportation of the school’s students and teachers.

Addresses were also given at the ceremony by the high school principal Yiannis Demirtzoglou, George Papaliaris, president of the Crossroads Community in whose area of ​​responsibility Zografieo is located, and Stratos Doltsiniadis, legal representative of the founder of the school, while the event was coordinated by journalist Manolis Kostidis.

At the end, commemorative gifts were awarded to the president and the members of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Banking Union, while a dedicated short film was shown.

*Photos: Nikos Papachristou, Ecumenical Patriarchate