GREEK EDUCATION IN MONASTIR - PELAGONIA

GREEK EDUCATION IN MONASTIR - PELAGONIA 35
2. The best-known Greek schools in Monastir
a) The Varnavas School
Monastir’s first “Greek School” was founded in 1830 by Demetrios
Varnavas. It had 8 classes (5 in its primary division and 3 in its middle
school), one teacher (Varnavas) and a priest who served as his assistant, and
was supported by the Church and by contributions from the community.
It was a small school, with no more than 25-30 pupils, who initially
were taught Ancient Greek Literature, including Sophocles and Aeschylus
in the final class, Mathematics, History of the Greek Revolution, the Songs
of Rigas Pheraios and Dionysios Solomos, and Gymnastics. Later the curriculum
was expanded to include Language Arts, Ancient Greek Literature
(Xenophon, Lysias, Isocrates, Sophocles, Aeschylus), the Songs (heroic and
martial) of Rigas Pheraios and Dionysios Solomos, Latin, French, Old and
New Testament, Church Liturgy, Mathematics (Algebra), History (Roman,
Greek Revolution), Geography (the five continents) and gymnastics. 42
One may say that this school also functioned as a teacher training institute,
since: a) Varnavas was assisted by a priest who “taught the liturgy to
prepare readers, cantors and priests” and b) many of its graduates were,
after Varnavas’ death, hired as teachers in other schools in Monastir. 43
Of the pupils who successfully completed all eight classes of the
school, the Greek community subsequently hired as teachers: for the Central
Primary School, Georgios Papakosmas, with Charalambos Triantaphyllides
as his assistant; for the “Greek” (Middle) School, Konstantinos Georsis,
Naoum Nakas and Anastasios Tzerros; for the Second Primary School,
Spasis Papanaoum, Konstantinos Georsis, Naoum Nakas and Konstantinos
Papanaoum; and for the Third Primary School, Konstantinos Ktenas.
Stephanos Tzerros, meanwhile, assumed the position of archdeacon to the
Metropolitan of Pelagonia and performed his duties admirably for 40
years. 44
This school was still operating in1883, with 3 teachers and 109 pupils.
45
42. Pantelis G. Tsallis, Glorious Monastir, 9.
43. Pantelis G. Tsallis, Glorious Monastir, 8-11.
44. Pantelis G. Tsallis, Glorious Monastir, 8-11; cf. also Pantelis G. Tsallis, “Glorious
Monastir”, Aristoteles 33-34 (1962), 63; Konstantinos A. Vavouskos, The contribution), 26,
n. 45.
45. Antonis M. Koltsidas, The education, 159-160.