VOL. 63 NO. 1145 MAY 20, 1998 http://www.goarch.org/goa/observer E-mail: [email protected] One of Largest Classes Graduates at May 16 Commencement BROOKLINE, Mass. For the 56th time, smiling-faced graduates of Holy Cross School of Theology passed into another phase of their lives as they collected their diplomas at the Holy Cross commencement on May 16. Archbishop Spyridon greeted each of the 39 seminarians and 19 Hellenic College students of the Class of 1998 as they crossed the stage in Pappas Gymnasium. By Jim Golding In his address during the ceremony, he exhorted them to proclaim the Christian Ecumenical Patriarch gospel, as proclaimed by the community of saints throughout the centuries, each within to Spend 3 Days in U.S. the context of your own walks of life, and to apply what you have learned to todays Prior to his official visit to Canada at the context in a way that brings salvation to oth- end of May, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartho- ers. (see full text and list of graduates on lomew will spend three days in New York and page 8) Connecticut where he will receive an honor- (Orthodox Observer photo) ary degree at Yale University on May 25, Me- Honorary degrees ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON, flanked by Metropolitans Isaiah and Nicholas of Amissos, and morial Day. Among the commencement highlights other Holy Cross School of Theology officials, with graduates of the seminary. His All Holiness will arrive at the air- was the conferral of honorary degrees to gentleness, faith, meekness and self-control. the students kept their focus on why they port in White Plains, N.Y., late in the after- Michael G. Cantonis, who recently endowed These are test scores that prove you have came to study here. They did not allow any noon on Friday, May 22. The following day, the Michael G. Cantonis Chair of Greek passed the examinations in this holy place. negative publicity to interrupt that focus. he will preside at a Patriarchal Great Ves- Studies at the school, and to Metropolitan Presidents comments They accepted the reality as a challenge, and pers at St. Irene Chrysovalantou monastery Nicholas of Amissos, head of the Carpatho- they prevailed. in Astoria, beginning at 3:30 p.m. A recep- Russian Orthodox Diocese. In his address to the audience, Metro- Valedictorians Athina Kokkori for Hel- tion in his honor will take place at 7 p.m. in Mr. Cantonis is an Archon, a member politan Isaiah, who is nearing completion of lenic College, and Brian Sietsema for Holy the Great Hall of the Castle in Tarrytown, of the Archdiocesan Council and Holy Cross his first year as HC/HC president, reflected Cross, spoke in both Greek and English, N.Y., followed by a dinner. board, and also is a strong supporter of the on the schools progress since its founding challenging their fellow students to take their Sunday morning, the Patriarch will travel University of Florida. in 1937 and over the past year of transition. newly acquired knowledge and use it to to Bridgeport, Conn., for Orthros and Patri- Metropolitan Nicholas also delivered Much has changed in the composition spread the Orthodox faith. archal Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church. the commencement address. He told the of the student body from 1937, he said. Other speakers included the Rev. Dean A reception and luncheon will follow. graduates that they have a responsibility to More and more students who study here N. Paleologos, dean of St. Spyridon Cathe- He will depart for Yale University Mon- serve Christ and His Church. ...You have are from different backgrounds, ethnicities dral in Worcester, Mass., representing the day morning for the 10:30 a.m. honorary not received this blessing that comes with and cultures. Even the cradle Orthodox re- school trustees. Fr. Paleologos is the son of degree ceremony at Woodbridge Hall. your graduation from Holy Cross or Hellenic flect the fact that most of the marriages of one of the first graduates of Holy Cross in Yale President Richard C. Levin will host College only for yourselves. We were not our Archdiocese today include spouses of 1943, Fr. Nicholas Paleologos. His own son, a luncehon in honor of the Patriarch and other born only for ourselves, but for others. diverse ethnic backgrounds....we are wit- also named Nicholas, is one of this years honorees at the University Commons at noon. He said their diploma and course work nessing the realization of the prophetic Hellenic College graduates. His All Holiness will depart for Ottawa, cannot define their success at the school, words of the Holy Saturday morning Divine Canada from the New Haven airport at 2:30 pm. but the proof of their achievements will be Liturgy, when we joyfully cry out, Arise of Philoptochos gift According to a press release from Fr. found in the testimony of words which pro- God, and judge the earth; for You shall take Mimi Skandalakis, National Philop- Demetrios A. Recachinas, pastor of Holy ceed out of your hearts. For the heart is the an inheritance from all the nations. tochos president, presented a gift of $50,000 Trinity Church, a statewide Orthodox cel- most compelling witness of all. He continued, This past year could from the womens organization for the ebration has been declared with Archbishop The Metropolitan also told them that have been most disturbing, if not truly dev- schools scholarship fund. Spyridon issuing an inviation to all Ortho- the standards by which they will be mea- astating, for our students due to undue in- Professor Antonios Danassis-Aftenakis, dox churches in Connecticut to participate. sured consist of love, joy, peace, patience, fluences from within and from without; but vice chancellor of the University of Athens, speaking in Greek, praised the role of the Greek language in spreading Christian learn- ing. A representative of the Greek Consu- Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece Énstalled late in Boston presented two scholarships ATHENS. Archbishop Christo- from the Greek government. doulos of Athens and All Greece was in- The Rev. Deacon John Chryssavgis, act- stalled on May 9, 1998 in a formal cer- ing dean of Hellenic College and Holy Cross, emony in Athens in the presence of Par- also offered greetings to the audience and liament president Apostolos Kaklamanis, praised Metropolitan Isaiahs service in his the prelates of the Holy Synod and repre- first year as president, saying that he set sentatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate the tone for the peace and progress of our and other Orthodox Churches. community over the past year. After the ceremony, Archbishop Earlier in the day, Archbishop Spyridon Christodoulos thanked the prelates for the celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross trust they showed in him by electing him Chapel, where he also ordained Deacon head of the Church of Greece and added Dimitri Moraitis to the priesthood, and el- that the Church will continue its course evated Fr. Joachim Cotsonis, director of the with unity for the good of the country. school library, to the rank of archimandrite. The new Archbishop also spoke on On Sunday, His Eminence ordained the relations with the Mother Church, the Brian Sietsma to the priesthood at St. Ecumenical Patriarchate, and on his plans Nectarios Church in Roslindale. to greatly improve them. His visit to the Emphasizes Eucharist Patriarchate has been scheduled for June At Deacon Moraitis ordination, the 12-15. Archbishop emphasized the central role of (Full coverage on page 11) (N. Manginas photo) See COMMENCEMENT on page 2 PAGE 2 ORTHODOX OBSERVER MAY 20, 1998 ARCHDIOCESE NEWS A Reminder about the Clergy-Laity Congress Registration for 34th Clergy Laity Con- sage of Orthodoxy, The future role of Or- gress in Orlando, Fla., is still being accepted thodox religious education, The interfaith but should be sent in as soon as possible, marriage challenge, The growth of monasti- as a little more than a month remains until cism, Youth ministry, Environmentalism, the conclave, Congress organizers request. Church and society and Emerging technol- Some 3,000 delegates, observers and ogy and the Church. guests from the 450 parishes of the Arch- Speakers will include Fr. Frank diocese are expected to attend. Marangos, director of the Archdiocese De- partment of Religious Education; Fr. John By Jim Golding Chryssavgis, acting dean of Holy Cross The $475 fee must accompany the reg- School of Theology; Fr. George Economou, istration form which should be sent to: 34th pastor of Assumption Church, Pawtucket, Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress at the Greek R.I.; Fr. Nick Krommydas, chancellor of the Orthodox Archdiocese, 8 East 79th St., New Boston Diocese; and Fr. Charles Joanides, York, NY 10021. pastor of Assumption Church, Waterloo, This years general theme, One Faith, Iowa; and Mr. Theo Nikolakis director of the One Family, One Future: Together the New Archdiocese Department of Internet Minis- Millennium, will be reflected in a religious tries. education program in 15 workshops. Delegates will be able to attend teach- The workshops will cover three ing seminars to learn about programs and catechetical portfolios corresponding to procedures for stewardship, parish finances, the congress theme and will address the legal matters and other issues. HIS EMINENCE with Metropolitans Isaiah and Nicholas, other school officials and Hellenic A youth rally will take place on Wednes- College graduates. (Orthodox Observer photo) following topics: The spirituality of the Pentecostarion, Understanding the Sacra- day, July 8. Archbishop Spyridon will speak ment of Marriage, Liturgical participation and with the youth at that time. The rally will Inside Hellenic College its implications for faith development, Re- include a day trip to Sea World. newing the local parish, The marriage life Other special events at the Congress Archdiocese News 2-3 Holy Cross 1998 cycle, Orthodox spirituality, An examination of Orthodox ecclesiology, The eternal mes- See CLERGY-LAITY on page 21 Bible Guide - 9 Commencement Books 17 from page 1 St.