In a joyful ceremony in the "Faros" Hall at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), on Friday, November 22nd, 2019, His Eminence the Bishop of Monemvasia and Sparta, Efstathios was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Department of Informatics of the School of Technologies, Informatics and Communications of the University of Piraeus.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Ieronymos II , while many academics, university students, representatives of the prime minister and parties, parliamentarians, politicians, metropolitans, representatives of regions and municipalities, etc., attended.
The rector of the university, Professor Angelos Kotios, in his address, presented in detail the reasons why the Senate and the Department, following the proposal of Assoc. Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados, chose to award the Bishop of Sparta, an Honorary Doctorate, highlighting his significant contribution to culture, literature, intellectuality, philanthropic and, above all, social work.
This was followed by the Chair of the Department of Informatics, Professor Georgios Tsichrintzis, who referred to the work of the department, its programs and international awards. The Laudatio of the Honoree was presented by the Deputy President of the Department of Informatics, Director of the Graduate Program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies", Associate Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados.
The Reverend Bishop of Monemvasia and Sparta, in his speech on "Outlining the position of the Orthodox Church towards modern computer and internet technology" emphasized that as the Orthodox Church does not deny civilization but embraces it, cultivates it, nourishes it with value and adopts it. It considers Technology and its achievements based on high achievements of the Spirit with remarkable to emblematic "spirituality" and a place where truth and beauty go hand in hand, an amazing achievement of science, that is, of human knowledge and Spirit.

1 the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Angelos Kotios.
2 Professor Georgios Tsichrintzis, president of the Department of Informatics. S
3 Associate Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados, Associate President of the Informatics department.
4 the Reverend Bishop of Monemvasia and Sparta Efstathios.