Tag Archives: Orthodox Academy of Crete

Inauguration of renovated Academy building in Kolymbari

The inauguration of the renovated conference complex of the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymbari is scheduled to take place on 23rd November 2026. The ceremony will be conducted by Theodoros II, the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, who was born as Nikolaos Choreftakis in Choreftiana, Kissamos, in 1954. The complete renovation of the complex, which has an area of 3,100 sq m, was funded by the Public Investment Programme of the Region of Crete with a budget of €3.1 million.

A building with white arches on two floors and covered in scaffolding is seen from the road below a stone wall.
The original building of the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymbari. The façade, for many months clear of building materials, is now once again swathed in scaffolding, no doubt for the application a final coat of paint.

The contract for the renovation was signed on 25th March 2024 and the project is now nearing completion. The works have included replacement of floors, windows and doors, electrical installations, internal changes of use, concrete reinforcement, energy upgrading and landscaping of external areas.

The building was the Academy’s original conference centre, whose construction was completed in 1968 and includes the chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius*, conference and administrative facilities, guest rooms, a library, refectories and a professional kitchen.

The same building in a black and white photo with a 60s style bus in front and no road.
The building seen shortly after its construction, in 1970. Photo: Oac.gr

The date of the inauguration was announced by Amphilochios, Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selino and chairman of the Academy’s management board, at a meeting of the parties involved in the renovation. He described the completion of the works as “a vision of many years which is now becoming a reality and is expected to give new inspiration and life to the Academy”.
(Haniotika Nea, 17/09/26)

*The Saints Cyril and Methodius were Byzantine monks of Greek or Bulgarian origin, born in Thessaloniki in the early 800s, who were noted for the their work in evangelising the Slavs. (Wikipedia)

The World Congress of Cretans discusses the island’s future

The 7th World Congress of Cretans, held in Chania from 21st to 27th July, brought together Cretans from all over the world to discuss the future pattern of their relationship with their native island, with national and local politicians, academics and people from the fields of business and culture. Starting with cultural events in the city of Chania, the Congress proper took place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymbari from 23rd July. The event was covered in detail by the Haniotika Nea, which reported on the proceedings on three consecutive days. The following is a digest of those reports.

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Conference emphasises the need for protecting religious monuments

The need for promoting and protecting religious sites as places for the preservation of culture was emphasised at the 2nd Conference of the Religious Fundamentalism Monitor which opened at the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymbari on 2nd July. The two-day conference was sponsored by the Metropolis of Alexandroupolis, Traianoupolis and Samothrace, by the General Secretary for Religions of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport, and the Orthodox Academy of Crete.

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3rd Alternative Tourism Festival opens in Chania

This weekend the Municipality of Chania’s Festival of Alternative Tourism is running for the third consecutive year, from Friday 16th May to Sunday 18th May. Following the success of last year’s event, the Festival of Alternative Tourism and Experiences, under the banner “260Kmemories Festival”, will be taking place in Katechaki Square behind the Mikis Theodorakis Theatre, from 18:00 to 23:00 each evening.

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A Kolymbari photo album

Regular readers may remember that a year ago we posted a report of a book launch at the Orthodox Academy of Crete. The book, Kolymbari – socioeconomic history and folklore by Haris Naxakis, traced the history of Kolymbari and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to the present day, concentrating on the modern period from 1900 when Kolymbari first appeared in an official census.

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Orthodox Academy gets funding for building renovation

On Tuesday 5th March a contract for the renovation of the original building of the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymbari was signed at the offices of the Regional Unit of Chania, between the Regional Governor Stavros Arnautakis and the contractor Smart Construction. The budget of €3.1 million will cover the complete renovation of the old building, which was inaugurated in 1968. Funds are being provided by the Public Expenditure Programme of the Cretan Regional Authority.

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Orthodox Academy hosts conference on early Christmas customs

On Saturday 16th December at 5.00 pm, the Orthodox Academy of Crete is hosting an international online conference on the subject of “Early Christmas Customs and Practice”. The aim is to facilitate open scholarly dialogue on the practices of worship at Christmas in the early centuries of Christianity, which are the foundations of the festival of Christmas as is it practised today.

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History of Kolymbari launched at the Orthodox Academy

Following the concert dedicated to the music of Mikis Theodorakis which took place last Monday at the new harbour in Kolymbari, the composer’s connection with the area was noted at the launch of a new book, Kolymbari – socioeconomic history and folklore, by Haris Naxakis which took place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete on Wednesday evening (9th August). A substantial audience had gathered in the courtyard in front of the Academy’s auditorium building to hear tributes from local authority figures, an address by the author, extracts from the book and a concluding programme of Cretan music.

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Orthodox Academy hosts conference on vegetable oils

Experts from across the world gathered at the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymbari last week for a 4-day workshop to discuss the future of vegetable oils. The conference, which was organised by the Working Group on Oilseed Crops of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Sustainable Nutrition Scientific Board – which is funded by Nutella – aimed to investigate the production and the impact of these oils.

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