Million Dollar Gift Enables Renovation of Pappas Gymnasium

An anonymous $1 million donation is being made to Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in honor of Fr. Savas C. Constantinou. The donation will be used to renovate the Pappas Gymnasium, first built in 1960 and named for benefactors John and Thomas Pappas of Boston, MA. The last update took place in 2000 when a workout area was installed in the Upper Mezzanine thanks to a gift from Leadership 100.

Said Interim HCHC President Fr. Michael Lambakis, “We are grateful for this most generous act of stewardship to our beloved school. This gift reflects not only love for the school and students, but it highlights the great pastoral impact that Fr. Savas had on countless lives throughout his priestly ministry.”

After graduating from Holy Cross, Fr. Sav (as he was affectionately known) began his ministry in 1976 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Norfolk, VA. He presided there for two decades before serving St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Virginia Beach, VA, from 1996 to 2005. Fr. Sav reposed in the Lord in 2013. He and Presbytera Athena, who reposed in 2023, were married for 48 years, had one daughter, Presbytera Renee (Constantinou) Lambakis.

The scope of work and timeline for the renovation are still being determined, but work is likely to begin after the completion of the 2026-27 school year. Fisher College men’s and women’s basketball teams use the gym and it hosts youth basketball tournaments on occasion. Famously, the Pappas Gymnasium once served as the practice facility of the Boston Celtics for many years – including the Larry Bird era (1979-1992).