User:Gennadius Scholarius/University Ecclesiastical Academy of Vella of Ioannina

The University Ecclesiastical Academy of Vella of Ioannina operated in the academic year 2007-2008 with two programs of studies a) Program of Clerical Studies (8-eight semesters) and b) Program of Ecclesiastical Music and Chanting  (8-eight semesters), after admission of students, both male and female, through the National Examination System.

Program of Clerical Studies
The Program of Clerical Studies includes a curriculum of eight (8) semesters. The candidates, only male, Lyceum graduates are admitted through the National Examination System. Those who have access to the Schools of the first scientific field can apply for this department, in accordance with their computerized card for the National Examinations.

The Program of Ecclesiastical Music and Chanting includes a curriculum of eight (8) semesters and it concerns a department in which the students are educated to learn the Byzantine Church Music and Chanting. The candidates –male and female Lyceum graduates- are admitted through the National Examination System, and those who have access to the Schools of the first scientific field can apply for this department, in accordance with their computerized card for the National Examinations.

Aim of the Academy
Aim of the Ecclesiastical education and consequently aim of the UEA Vella of Ioannina, as well, are the advancement and preparation of management staff, clergymen and laymen, for the Orthodox Church in Greece up to a high education level and Christian ethos (Law 3432/2006, article 2).

Historical information
The University Ecclesiastical Academy (UEA) of Vella of Ioannina constitutes continuity of the Upper Church School of Vella of Ioannina which was the educational continuity of the Seminary of Vella of Ioannina.

The School of Vella of Ioannina was founded in 1911, by the Metropolitan Bishop of Vella and Konitsa Spyridon Vlachos who afterwards became Metropolitan Bishop of Ioannina and later Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, and operated as a Seminary. It carries along a rich educational history and completes one century of educational contribution. Its foundation purpose was the education of Priests and Teachers in order to serve mainly the districts of Epirus and generally the remote regions of Greece.The operation of the School of Vella of Ioannina, during its centennial educational presence is divided into the following phases;


 * Clerical School of Vella from 1911 to 1924, with a four-year program of studies (Seminary type).
 * Rural Seminary of Vella Monastery from 1927 to 1939, with a five-year program of studies.
 * Seminary of Vella Monastery from 1939 to1969, with a six-year program of studies.
 * Seminary of Vella from 1969 to 1977, with a six year program of studies.
 * Ecclesiastical Pedagogical Academy of Vella from 1977 to 1989, with a three-year program of studies.
 * Upper Ecclesiastical School of Vella from1993 to 2006, with a three-year program of studies [and from 2001 to 2006, with six (6) semesters of studies at the Technical Educational Institution -TEI- level]
 * University Ecclesiastical Academy of Vella of Ioannina, from 2006 until today, with eight (8) semesters of studies and with two programs of studies: a) Program of Clerical Studies and b) Program of Ecclesiastical Music and Chanting

Later, Law 3432/ 2006 renamed the Upper Church School of Vella of Ioannina to University Ecclesiastical Academy (UEA) of Vella of Ioannina (as it also happened with the other three equivalent Schools of Athens, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion of Crete), upgrading it to a Higher Class School, with four-year studies..

Access to the UEA of Vella of Ioannina
(Extract from article 4 of Law 3432/2006) 4.1. Access to the Programs of Studies of the UEA of Vella of Ioannina, have the Eniaeo Lyceum graduates or the graduates of any other equivalent school of the Secondary Education, according to the conditions and the terms of the admission system in the Higher Education, inasmuch as they are Orthodox Christians. In particular, for the Program of Clerical Studies only male candidates are accepted.