Crete. World Factbook

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) was first invited to Crete in 1961 by Greek Orthodox Bishop Ireneos to help open a vocational school. MCC sent two volunteers as teachers. Two years later, as enrollment increased, the Greek government supplied and funded the teachers.

In 1965 Bishop Ireneos again invited MCC to Crete to develop an agriculture and demonstration center. MCC workers distributed the offspring of imported improved livestock. They made available improved livestock feed and conducted limited classes in agriculture. Produce from the center was used to provide food for the students, who supported by the bishop, lived in dormitories located in villages with schools. In 1973 the agriculture center was turned over to the bishop. In all of this an attempt was made to build bridges of greater understanding between the Greek Orthodox and the Mennonites.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 212. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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