Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – The 77th Commencement of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology began with a paternal message from the newly elected Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on Saturday May 18. In his message, which was delivered by Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, Chief Secretary of the Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese, Archbishop Elpidophoros said: “My beloved Hellenic College and Holy Cross community, Christ is risen ! “As you assemble for your 77th Commencement exercises and festivities, I would like to assure you that my prayers and thoughts are with you. Moreover, I…
Browsing: Hellenic College
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – Interim Deans of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Dr. Bruce Beck and Rev. Thomas FitzGerald, respectively, sent a joint letter dated April 24, 2019 to all students attempting to pacify them regarding the situation at both Schools. They emphasize that, “during the coming academic year, all the majors in the College will remain the same, and all current students will be able to complete the majors in which they are currently enrolled.” The deans also informed the students about a recent note issued by academic authorities…
Source: The National Herald By Antonis H. Diamataris No, it’s not fake news. The National Herald readers have known for some time that the situation at the School of Theology (and Hellenic College) in Boston is not sustainable. But the news that Archdiocesan officials were forced to dismiss the clergy-president of the School just a few days before Easter made it abundantly clear that they were acting under acute panic. Anticipating the worst (after everything we have witnessed thus far), we moved to explore what might have being the real reason for removing him just before Easter. There were two prevailing schools…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – Dr. Aristotle Michopoulos, Professor of Greek at Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston for the last 31 years, having arrived there from the University of Florida where he taught previously, knows Hellenic College and Holy Cross better than anybody else. In addition to his teaching, he also served as Dean of Hellenic College from 1995 to 2002. Michopoulos has also supported the School financially in a substantial way with his own money. During an interview with The National Herald he noted that he served as Dean of…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – The Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity has been established since 2010 at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, directed by Fr. Luke Veronis, who also teaches classes on missions. He is also presiding priest at Sts. Constantine and Helen parish in Webster Massachusetts. Fr. Luke has served as a missionary in Kenya, preaching the Gospel of Christ and baptizing hundreds into the Orthodox Church. He also served for twelve-and-one-half years with Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania. During the Clergy-Laity Congress of the…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos CONSTANTINOPLE – At the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s recent Holy Synod, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey said there is a serious problem at the Hellenic College / Holy Cross School of Theology (HCHC), referring to: reduction of the student body, a dire financial situation, the resignations of Deans Demetrios Katos from the College and Demetrios Skedros from the Theological School, as well as the resignation of numerous members of the Board of Trustees. Evangelos also raised the issue of a director’s criticism of School President Fr. Christopher Metropulos. In the presence of the Synod, which…
1. Clergy Retirement Account The following options are possible strategies for repaying the funds that were not placed in the Clergy Retirement Fund. The Archdiocese will have to manage its operations with less. The alternative – retiring clergy families will have to manage with less. Option 1: Each year all parishes should split their Archdiocesan assessment by ½. Each year ½ should be sent to Archdiocese Each year ½ should be sent to a professionally-managed pooled investment account Interest on the pooled account will be placed in the Clergy Retirement Account until account is up-to-date. The principle of the Pooled…
Source: Estiator Magazine The speech given by businessman Efstathios Valiotis at the commencement ceremony of Hellenic College / Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate, caused a great deal of commotion and elicited interesting comments within the ecclesiastical circles and the Greek-American Community. He is the first well-known Greek-American with close ties to our community and the Church, and with seven years of theological studies, who is strongly in favor of an Autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. This view has long been supported by this magazine and by the 1998 resolution of the…
Source: The National Herald By Dan Georgakas Financial and academic problems are again plaguing Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology (HCHC). The crisis has even called into question the desirability of their continued existence. Reviewing the history of the institution provides some guidance on what changes may be desirable. The first attempt to create a Greek Orthodox school of theology in America came in 1921 following a visit by the Ecumenical Patriarch Meletios Metaxakis. Understanding the need for English-speaking and American-born priests, he founded the Seminary of St. Athanasios in Astoria, New York. The school lasted only two years,…
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos BOSTON – In a confidential letter, dated May 8, 2018, to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America eleven members of the Board of Trustees including members of the Executive Committee as well of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC), warned in a most official and final way that Hellenic College is threatened with elimination and the Theological School is in danger of losing its academic accreditation, while its future is doubtful. They have arrived at the point of stating that maybe they will not accept students for this…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – The Order of St. Andrew Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate issued a strong statement condemning the statements regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate made in a speech given by Steve Efstathios Valiotis of New York at the Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Commencement ceremony in Brookline, MA. Mr. Valiotis was being awarded an honorary doctorate by the School. He called for the Church in America “to become autocephalous or the Ecumenical Patriarchate to move to the U.S.” Valiotis also stated that “we can’t be governed by a small…
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos BOSTON, MA – The Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology (HCHC) held its 76th commencement on May 17. Twenty-four students graduated from the College and 35 from the Theological School, of which 19 graduated with a master’s in divinity, the degree for those who wish to become priests. Of the remaining 35 School graduates, seven received a master’s in theology and nine a master’s in theological studies. Also, seven received a certificate in Byzantine music. The College’s and School’s valedictorians, respectively, were Theofanis Rauch and Jeremy Troy. John P. Calamos, Sr.,…