The missionary workers of the portal „Kinonia“ wish all students and their hardworking professors and teachers a happy and God-blessed start to the new school year.
We invoke God’s blessing and help at the beginning of every holy and God-pleasing work, and especially at the beginning of every new school year, because growing in knowledge and true education is a great and holy work, both for those who have the ministry of teaching, and for the students entrusted to them.
It is not possible to educate and train others and oneself without a fundamental insight into the mystery of sacred education, which implies being likened to God. Venerable Father Justin of Celje taught his spiritual children that true education is that which guides a person on the right path, so that through this life on earth he may gain eternal life in heaven. To educate and train means to overcome every sin within ourselves, every passion, through evangelical faith, love, fasting and prayer, in order to make our souls a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.
We fervently pray to the Lord God in the glorious Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that the beginning of the new school year may be blessed by the prayers of Saint Sava, our teacher of the path that leads to eternal life, so that our education and training may bear true fruits that culminate in eternal communion with God and all the saints!
From the Prayer for the beginning of the school year:
We also pray to the Lord our God, that he may look mercifully upon all the students, and send into their hearts, minds, and mouths the spirit of wisdom, and understanding, and piety, and the fear of Him, and that he may enlighten them with the light of His prudence, and grant them strength and power, that they may quickly understand and successfully adopt the teachings of His divine law and all good and useful teachings, so that they may progress in wisdom and understanding, in all virtues, and in the fulfillment of His commandments to the glory of His most holy Name; and that He may grant them health and long life for the advancement and adornment of His Church, let us all say: Lord, hear us and have mercy graciously.
Lord God and our Creator, You have honoured us humans with Your image; You have taught Your chosen ones to respect those who listen to Your teaching; You have revealed wisdom to children; You taught Solomon and all who seek Your wisdom; open the hearts, minds and mouths of Your servants, that they may adopt the power of Your law and successfully comprehend the beneficial teachings that are handed down to them, for the glory of Your most holy Name, for the benefit and advancement of Your holy Church, and to know Your good and perfect will. Deliver them from every attack of the enemy; preserve them in the Orthodox faith, and in all piety and purity all the days of their lives, that they may advance in the knowledge and fulfillment of Your commandments, that thus prepared they may glorify Your most holy Name, and be heirs of Your Kingdom. For You are a God mighty in mercy and merciful in power, and to You is due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.