Surf Wiki
Save to docs
philosophy

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Orthodox Christian college in Brookline, Massachusetts

Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Summary

Orthodox Christian college in Brookline, Massachusetts

FieldValue
nameHellenic CollegeHoly Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
imageHellenic-College-Chapel-1.png
captionChapel of the Holy Cross, Hellenic College
former_namesThe Greek Archdiocese Institute
Holy Cross Theological School
mottoἘν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος
motto_langel
mottoengIn the beginning was the Word
established
typePrivate liberal arts college and seminary
religious_affiliationGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
accreditationNECHE (Hellenic College)ATS (Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology)
chairmanArchbishop Elpidophoros of America
presidentDemetrios S. Katos
address50 Goddard Ave
cityBrookline
stateMassachusetts
countryUnited States
coordinates
academic_staff36 total (fall 2023)
undergrad64 (fall 2023)
postgrad135 (fall 2023)
campusUrban
campus_size52 acre
website

Holy Cross Theological School

Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC) is a private Orthodox Christian liberal arts college and seminary in Brookline and Boston in Massachusetts. The institution is composed of two schools. These are Hellenic College, an undergraduate liberal arts college, and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, a graduate theological school and seminary. The institution is affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

In 1937, the institution was founded by Archbishop Athenagoras of America and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in Pomfret, Connecticut as The Greek Archdiocese Institute. Its name was soon changed to Holy Cross Theological School, and was moved to Brookline, Massachusetts in 1947. The institution reached its modern structure in 1968, when it established an undergraduate liberal arts college, Hellenic College, alongside the postgraduate theological school and seminary, now called the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Both schools were first accredited in the 1970s.

Hellenic College Holy Cross is the only accredited Eastern Orthodox college, seminary, and graduate school of theology in both the United States, and the Western Hemisphere as a whole. Numerous prominent Eastern and Oriental Orthodox clerics and academics have been affiliated with the institution, either attending as students or working as faculty.

History

Origins

Archbishop Athenagoras of America soon after his enthronement became convinced that a seminary was needed in America to prepare American born man for the priesthood. At the 1936 Clergy-Laity Congress, he announced that the school would open next year in Pomfret, Connecticut, on an estate owned by the Archdiocese, bought for a song during the Great Depression. In 1937, Pomfret seminary was established as The Greek Archdiocese Institute, which would soon become known as Holy Cross Theological School.

The establishment of the seminary in Pomfret was a bold experiment, fraught with difficulties. Demetrios Michaelides, who entered the seminary in the 1937, remembered: "The first year was very hard. We were isolated. Being the first class of the start of the seminary was a challenge. The school had very little money, which was a hardship for all. There was not much money for food or books or other supplies. People from Boston and Worcester would bring food for us."

The seminary reached its current location in 1947, when it moved from Pomfret to Brookline, Massachusetts.

Creation of modern structure

In 1968, Holy Cross expanded its undergraduate division into a full four-year liberal arts college named Hellenic College.

In 1974, Hellenic College was first accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, and the Holy Cross Theological School was first accredited by the Association of Theological Schools the same year.

21st century

In the spring of 2019, the college was warned by the state of Massachusetts and its accreditor of financial problems. This led to college announcing measures to ameliorate financial difficulties, and the resignation of the institution's then president, Christopher Metropulos. By late 2019 and early 2020, Hellenic College Holy Cross was put on probation by the NECHE, and considered at risk of losing its accreditation. The college was removed from probation in March 2021, with the NECHE finding progress in relevant areas.

Organization and administration

Demetrios S. Katos is the current president of HCHC. The institution is also administered by a Board of Trustees. The chairman of the institution's Board of Trustees is Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

Academics

Degrees

Hellenic College offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree.

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology offers graduate programs of study leading to the degrees of Master of Divinity (M.Div), Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.), and Master of Theology (Th.M).

Accreditation

Since 1974, Hellenic College has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), and Holy Cross School of Theology has been accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). Hellenic College Holy Cross is the only accredited Orthodox Christian college, seminary, and graduate school of theology in the United States and the Western Hemisphere. Holy Cross is also a member of the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium.

Enrollment and faculty

In the fall of 2023, HCHC had 64 undergraduate students enrolled, and 135 graduate students enrolled.

At that time, HCHC had 15 full-time faculty and 18 working part-time, with 3 assistants also employed.

Campus

via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

The institution is located near the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, which is part of the non-canonical Holy Orthodox Church in North America.

Other programs and activities

Other educational programs

The Semester of Faith program allows undergraduate students from outside HCHC to continue working towards a bachelor's degree while studying at Hellenic College for a semester.

In 2025, HCHC and the Boston College Woods College of Advancing Studies, started a program in which students can complete the core curriculum at HCHC, and then transfer to Woods College to receive one of six career focused majors.

HCHC administers summer programs for those who do not study full time at the college. One, called CrossRoad is a ten-day, vocational exploration program for Orthodox Christian high school graduates and rising seniors. Two sessions are held on campus each summer. The Pappas Patristic Institute is a seminar based program that focuses on readings in the Church Fathers. This program is geared towards undergraduate and graduate students.

Greek Orthodox Theological Review

Starting in 1954, the faculty of the institution have published The Greek Orthodox Theological Review, a journal publishing scholarly works related to Orthodox Christianity, particularly Greek Orthodoxy.

Notable people

Notable faculty

  • Georges Florovsky
  • Eugen J. Pentiuc
  • John Romanides
  • Nomikos Michael Vaporis

Notable alumni

  • Bishop Andrei of Cleveland
  • Archbishop John of Tiranë, Durrës and All Albania
  • Archbishop Nikitas (Lulias) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
  • Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (did not graduate)
  • Metropolitan Evangelos (Kourounis) of Sardes, titular bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
  • Metropolitan Gerasimos (Michaleas) of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco
  • Metropolitan Isaiah (Chronopoulos) of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
  • Metropolitan Methodios (Tournas) of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston
  • Metropolitan Nicholas (Pissare) of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit
  • Metropolitan Savas (Zembillas) of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh
  • Bishop Andonios (Paropoulos) of Phasiane, auxiliary bishop and Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
  • Bishop Demetrios (Kantzavelos) of Mokissos, auxiliary bishop and Proistamenos of the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine
  • Bishop Dimitrios (Couchell) of Xanthos, titular bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
  • Bishop Kyrillos (Abdelsayed), auxiliary bishop for Christian Education and Dean of St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Theological School in the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii
  • Demetrios Constantelos
  • Emmanuel Lemelson
  • Alexander Karloutsos

Interments

  • Archbishop Iakovos (Koukouzis) of America
  • Bishop Gerasimos (Papadopoulos) of Abydos
  • Metropolitan Silas (Koskinas) of New Jersey

References

References

  1. "Find a School".
  2. "Hellenic College, Inc. - NECHE".
  3. "Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology".
  4. "Hellenic College Holy Cross {{!}} Our President".
  5. "Hellenic College Holy Cross {{!}} Our President".
  6. "College Navigator - Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology".
  7. "College Navigator - Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology".
  8. "Hellenic College Open House".
  9. Geography Division. (April 13, 2021). "2020 Census - Census Block Map: Boston city, MA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
  10. Geography Division. (April 9, 2021). "2020 Census - Census Block Map: Brookline town, MA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
  11. (2021). "New England Commission of Higher Education and Hellenic College Holy Cross".
  12. "Find a School".
  13. "Course Catalog 2009-2011".
  14. Krindatch, Alexey D.. ""American Orthodoxy" or "Orthodoxy in America"? Profiling the Next Generation of Eastern Christian Clergy in the USA". [[Hartford International University for Religion and Peace]].
  15. "Hellenic College Holy Cross {{!}} Why HCHC?".
  16. (2024-12-30). "Hellenic College Holy Cross".
  17. (Spring 2017). "The Pomfret legacy". Together Again: Hellenic College Holy Cross Alumni Magazine.
  18. (June 2012). "The early struggles at Pomfret". Together Again: Hellenic College Holy Cross Alumni Magazine.
  19. (2002-12-02). "Hellenic College Wins $2 Million Grant From Lilly Endowment To Establish Center For Theological Study Of Vocation".
  20. "DAPIP".
  21. Krantz, Laura. (2019-04-23). "State warns Hellenic College Holy Cross about grave financial challenges - The Boston Globe".
  22. (2019-04-25). "Hellenic College President Steps Down Amid Financial Crisis".
  23. "Hellenic College Holy Cross in Brookline placed on probation - The Boston Globe".
  24. Globe, The Boston. (2019-08-08). "Hellenic College Holy Cross at risk of losing accreditation".
  25. "Waning religion challenges theological schools - The Boston Globe".
  26. (2021). "New England Commission of Higher Education and Hellenic College Holy Cross".
  27. "Hellenic College Holy Cross {{!}} Our Leadership".
  28. "HCHC School Catalog:Part II{{thinspace".
  29. "Member School Degree Programs".
  30. "DaPIP {{!}} Location Profile". [[U.S. Department of Education]].
  31. "Why HCHC?".
  32. (September 2019). "Weld Family".
  33. Kreig, Andrew. (1982-04-24). "Celtics Notebook: Celts, Awaiting Playoffs Foe, Commune in Religious Setting". [[Hartford Courant]].
  34. "Information".
  35. "Hellenic College Holy Cross {{!}} Semester of Faith".
  36. February 2025, University Communications {{!}}. "New academic partnership".
  37. "CrossRoad".
  38. "Summer Programs".
  39. "Greek Orthodox Theological Review GOTR".
  40. Michaud, Derek. "Georges Vasilyevich Florovsky (1893-1979)".
  41. "Hellenic College Holy Cross {{!}} Rev. Fr. Eugen Pentiuc, PhD, ThD, DD".
  42. Michael, Prokurat. (2010). "The A to Z of the Orthodox Church". Bloomsbury Publishing.
  43. "Vicar Bishop - Bishop Andrei".
  44. (2026-03-29). "In a glorious atmosphere, the enthronement of Archbishop of Albania".
  45. "New Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain {{!}} LGR 103.3 FM".
  46. (1999-07-25). "Archbishop Philip Saliba, A Strong Voice for Justice in the Mideast and Christian Orthodox Unity in America".
  47. Kouremenos, Achilleas. (2023-01-19). "Metropolitan Evangelos of Sardis Appointed to Holy Synod of the Phanar".
  48. "His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Orthodox Church".
  49. Kalmoukos, Theodore. (2024-03-29). "Report on Resignation of Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver and What Transpired at the Phanar".
  50. Kalmoukos, Theodore. (2022-07-03). "Metropolitan Methodios of Boston Exclusively to TNH for the Centennial of the Archdiocese".
  51. "His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit".
  52. Boyle, Gerry. (2000). "The Sex Pistols, Nietzsche and the Will of God: Savas Zembillas's Journey from the Profane to the Sacred". Colby Magazine.
  53. "His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane".
  54. Headrick, Christina. "Native of Tarpon Springs to oversee Orthodox in Asia".
  55. "His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos Elevated".
  56. "Bishop Kyrillos {{!}} Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles".
  57. (2017-01-12). "Fr. Demetrios J. Constantelos Passes Away".
  58. Copeland, Rob. (2015-10-27). "Hedge-Fund Priest: Thou Shalt Make Money". Wall Street Journal.
  59. (2015-10-16). "Trump Blessed by Greek Orthodox Priest".
  60. "Alexander Karloutsos {{!}} Stony Brook Council".
  61. Kalmoukos, Theodore. (2020-10-31). "Elpidophoros Offers Trisagion at Archbishop Iakovos’ Tomb; Greek Amb. Visits HCHC".
  62. Kalmoukos, Theodore. (2024-07-08). "Impediment Arises in the Canonization of Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos".
  63. Dragas, George. (2000). "Obituary: Metropolitan Silas of Saranta Ekklêsies". Greek Orthodox Theological Review.
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

1937-establishments-in-massachusetts buildings-and-structures-in-boston buildings-and-structures-in-brookline,-massachusetts eastern-orthodox-seminaries eastern-orthodox-universities-and-colleges eastern-orthodoxy-in-massachusetts universities-and-colleges-established-in-1937 greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-america greek-american-culture-in-massachusetts seminaries-and-theological-colleges-in-massachusetts private-universities-and-colleges-in-massachusetts universities-and-colleges-in-norfolk-county,-massachusetts universities-and-colleges-in-suffolk-county,-massachusetts
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report