Presentation of the Patriarchal Great School of the Nation during the 1st Meeting of the Erasmus+ program "Travelling words" in Thessaloniki, December 2014

1. TRAVELLING WORDSTRAVELLING WORDS
Erasmus+ ProjectErasmus+ Project
FIRST INTERNATIONALFIRST INTERNATIONAL
MEETINGMEETING
2 – 7 DECEMBER 2014, THESSALONIKI2 – 7 DECEMBER 2014, THESSALONIKI

2. THE PATRIARCHAL GREAT SCHOOL OF THETHE PATRIARCHAL GREAT SCHOOL OF THE
NATIONNATION
(1454 - ∞)(1454 - ∞)

3. THE GREAT SCHOOLTHE GREAT SCHOOL
OF THE NATIONOF THE NATION
 The Great School of the Nation wasThe Great School of the Nation was
founded in 1454 by the Patriarchfounded in 1454 by the Patriarch
Gennadios of Scolario, the first PatriarchGennadios of Scolario, the first Patriarch
after the fall of Constantinople (Istanbul).after the fall of Constantinople (Istanbul).
 The first headmaster of the school wasThe first headmaster of the school was
the great teacher Matthew Kamariotis.the great teacher Matthew Kamariotis.
 In the centuries that followed, the schoolIn the centuries that followed, the school
excelled as a result of the influence of itsexcelled as a result of the influence of its
great scholars and leaders.great scholars and leaders.

4. THE GREAT SCHOOLTHE GREAT SCHOOL
OF THE NATIONOF THE NATION
 The magnificent building that is our school today was designed byThe magnificent building that is our school today was designed by
the architect Konstantinos Dimadis. It is beautifully located on thethe architect Konstantinos Dimadis. It is beautifully located on the
highest position of Fanari -the area around the Ecumenicalhighest position of Fanari -the area around the Ecumenical
Patriarchate- on the fifth hill of the City, on land that belonged toPatriarchate- on the fifth hill of the City, on land that belonged to
Dimitri Kandemir, Prince of Moldova, historian and graduate of theDimitri Kandemir, Prince of Moldova, historian and graduate of the
School. The impressive building of the School can easily beSchool. The impressive building of the School can easily be
spotted from many different points of the Golden Horn. It is alsospotted from many different points of the Golden Horn. It is also
known asknown as The Red SchoolThe Red School because of its red fire bricks broughtbecause of its red fire bricks brought
from Marseilles. If you have the chance to get a bird’s eye view offrom Marseilles. If you have the chance to get a bird’s eye view of
the School, you will see an eagle with open wings.the School, you will see an eagle with open wings. The opening ofThe opening of
the school was in 1882.the school was in 1882.

5.  Our school is a Greek minority school inOur school is a Greek minority school in
Turkey.Turkey.
 Only students which are OrthodoxOnly students which are Orthodox
Christians and Turkish citizens are allowedChristians and Turkish citizens are allowed
to enroll to our school.to enroll to our school.
 The school operates as a junior highThe school operates as a junior high
school (5school (5thth
- 8- 8thth
grades) and a high schoolgrades) and a high school
(9(9thth
– 12– 12thth
grades).grades).
 There are 53 students in our school thisThere are 53 students in our school this
year.year.
THE GREAT SCHOOLTHE GREAT SCHOOL
OF THE NATIONOF THE NATION

6. THE GREAT SCHOOLTHE GREAT SCHOOL
OF THE NATIONOF THE NATION
 The education is in the Greek and TurkishThe education is in the Greek and Turkish
languages.languages.
 School subjects which are taught in Greek are:School subjects which are taught in Greek are:
Greek language andGreek language and lliterature, psychology,iterature, psychology,
philosophy, religiophilosophy, religion culturen culture, mathematics,, mathematics,
geometry, biology, health, physics, chemistry,geometry, biology, health, physics, chemistry,
sciencescience and technology, art, music and physicaland technology, art, music and physical
education.education.
 School subjects taught in Turkish areSchool subjects taught in Turkish are:: TurkishTurkish
llanguage andanguage and lliterature, geography, history,iterature, geography, history,
social studies, ethics.social studies, ethics.
 The foreign language taught in our school isThe foreign language taught in our school is
English.English.

7. THE GREAT SCHOOLTHE GREAT SCHOOL
OF THE NATIONOF THE NATION
 The lessons start at 8.50 and finish at 3.10.The lessons start at 8.50 and finish at 3.10.
 We have 8 lessons a day. Each lesson is 40We have 8 lessons a day. Each lesson is 40
minutes in lenght.minutes in lenght.
 We have lunch at half past twelve. Our meals areWe have lunch at half past twelve. Our meals are
healthy and delicious.healthy and delicious.
 We play football, basketball, voleyball in ourWe play football, basketball, voleyball in our
school yard.school yard.
 We learn traditional Greek dances.We learn traditional Greek dances.
 We visit museums, exhibitions, book fairs.We visit museums, exhibitions, book fairs.
 We take part in different literary and sportWe take part in different literary and sport
competitions.competitions.

8. THE GREAT SCHOOLTHE GREAT SCHOOL
OF THE NATIONOF THE NATION
 We visit the EcumenicalWe visit the Ecumenical
Patriarchate on importantPatriarchate on important
festivals and feasts such asfestivals and feasts such as
Christmas, New Year’sChristmas, New Year’s
Eve, the feast of threeEve, the feast of three
Hierarchs, the feast ofHierarchs, the feast of
Saint Andrew.Saint Andrew.
 We decorate a bigWe decorate a big
Christmas tree in theChristmas tree in the
entrance hall of our school.entrance hall of our school.
 We organise a ChristmasWe organise a Christmas
Bazaar.Bazaar.

9. THE GREAT SCHOOLTHE GREAT SCHOOL
OF THE NATIONOF THE NATION
 This year we are celebrating the 560This year we are celebrating the 560thth
founding anniversary of our school.founding anniversary of our school.
 We are proud to be students at such aWe are proud to be students at such a
historical school that resembles a castle.historical school that resembles a castle.

10. THE GREAT SCHOOLTHE GREAT SCHOOL
OF THE NATIONOF THE NATION
 This year we are celebrating the 560This year we are celebrating the 560thth
founding anniversary of our school.founding anniversary of our school.
 We are proud to be students at such aWe are proud to be students at such a
historical school that resembles a castle.historical school that resembles a castle.