Graduation Excercises at the Bethany Orthodox School for Girls

On Thursday evening, May 11, the annual graduation ceremony of the Bethany Orthodox School for Girls took place at the school playground. This year, 12 young ladies graduated from the 12th grade and received their diploma from the Ministry of Education of Palestine.

The celebrations were attended by the Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), the Representative of the Russian Federation Mission to the Palestinian National Administration – Gocha Levanovich Buachidze, Abbess of the Gethsemane Convent of St. Mary Magdalene – mother Elisabeth (Smelic), the mayor of al-Azaria (Bethany) – Khalil Mahmud abu Reish, representatives of the Ministry of Education of Palestine, nun Maria (Wall) – Principal, relatives and friends of the students.

Among the speeches of the above representatives of both the public and ecclesiastic guests, the school choir and dance group performed for the attendees.

In the speeches of students and parents, the respect and gratitude to the administration and teaching staff of the school, headed by Mother Maria, was especially emphasized.

At the end of the ceremony the diplomas were handed out to the graduates with a lively applause from all those present.