Hellenic College Holy Cross

HCHC PRESIDENT CANTONIS WITHDRAWS RESIGNATION

On June 7, 2021, Hellenic College Holy Cross President George M. Cantonis sent the following communication to the HCHC community and Board of Trustees announcing his decision to withdraw his resignation:

To all in our HCHC community,

I am pleased to let you know that I have withdrawn my resignation from the position of President of Hellenic College Holy Cross.

My stated intent to resign stemmed from issues that had caused me great concern. Fortunately, however, subsequent highly productive discussions have resulted in the resolution of those issues and a clear path ahead.

I look forward with renewed optimism and commitment to continuing in my role as your President, and ask for your prayers as we work together to build a stronger, more vibrant school in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Faithfully,

George M. Cantonis

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Hellenic College Holy Cross

Fr. Michael Kouremetis and Fr. Christopher Flesoras have been appointed Dean of Students and Assistant Dean of Students, respectively, by HCHC President George M. Cantonis with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Deans of Students play vitally important roles in the life of Hellenic College Holy Cross. They are essential to the fulfillment of the institution's mission, not only by ensuring the quality of campus life for all students in both schools, but also by overseeing priestly and spiritual formation and services in Holy Cross Chapel. In announcing these appointments, President Cantonis said, "These exceptional individuals--both of them HCHC graduates--will bring new energy to the Office of Student Life and great credit to the institution."

Fr. Michael Kouremetis has served the Archdiocese with dedication and a broad array of skills in parishes large and small across the country. A native of Indiana, he received his BA in 1971 from Hellenic College, where he focused on behavioral science and Greek studies. After graduation and marriage, he worked in the secular world before returning to obtain his MDiv at Holy Cross in 1981. A beloved pastor and superb liturgist, Fr. Michael embodies all of the attributes required of a Dean of Students: extensive experience in youth ministry and chaplaincy, warm empathy, spiritual depth, strong organizational and problem-solving ability, and an abiding love for HCHC reaching back more than four decades.

Fr. Christopher Flesoras, a California native, received his BA in Religious Studies from Hellenic College in 1993 and his MDiv from Holy Cross in 1996. He went on to earn several more graduate degrees, culminating in a PhD from the University of California Davis. He has served his current parish, the St. Anna Shrine Church in Roseville, California, since 2001 and will remain the pastor there while serving as part-time Associate Dean of Students. Fr. Christopher will be working remotely and making periodic visits to campus. Like Fr. Michael, Fr. Christopher has extensive experience in chaplaincy, primarily military chaplaincy, and holds the rank of Major in the California Air National Guard. He also has extensive experience teaching and lecturing, particularly on the early Church, and will bring to his role here talents complementary to those of Fr. Michael, along with a different generational perspective.

Frs. Kouremetis and Flesoras will assume their new positions on August 1, 2021. ... See MoreSee Less

Hellenic College Holy Cross

HIS GRACE BISHOP ATHENAGORAS OF NAZIANZOS
ORDAINED AT HOLY CROSS CHAPEL

On Saturday, June 5, 2021, His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos was ordained at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology's Holy Cross Chapel. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the ordination, assisted by His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia, His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, His Grace Bishop Ierotheos of Evkarpia, His Grace Bishop Joachim of Amissos, His Grace Bishop John of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Worcester and New England, and other clergy. Also present were members of His Grace's family and many members of the HCHC faculty, staff, and student body.
Addressing Bishop-elect Athenagoras before the ordination, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros said, "Today is a day of great personal joy for me...You are a true son of the Great Church of Christ." His Eminence stressed the significance of the see of Nazianzos and of St. Gregory the Theologian's place among the most important Fathers of the Church. "This is the legacy that you are called to honor and to serve." In response, His Grace acknowledged the magnitude of that legacy and his boundless gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for entrusting him with the historic see.
His Grace was elected Bishop of Nazianzos on May 19 by the unanimous vote of the Holy and Sacred Synod on the recommendation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, whom he will serve as Auxiliary Bishop while continuing his ministry in the United States under the direction of HIs Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros.
Born Christos Ziliaskopoulos in 1970 in Reutlingen, Germany, His Grace brings to his new position a wealth of experience in many roles, from monastic to parish priest to Dean of the Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy in Toronto, Canada. He came to Boston in 2019 to serve as Chaplain at Hellenic College Holy Cross. Throughout his life in the Church, His Grace has been very active in ecumenical dialogue, working with those of other faiths toward the goal of finding common purpose in an increasingly secular world. He holds numerous academic degrees and is proficient in multiple languages.

The video of the entire Divine Liturgy and ordination can be viewed here. The HCHC community warmly congratulates His Grace on this richly deserved recognition of his lifelong dedication to the Church. AXIOS! ... See MoreSee Less