Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Not to be confused with Hellenic College of London.

Hellenic College
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Hellenic College
Former names
The Greek Archdiocese Institute
Holy Cross Theological School
Motto
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος[citation needed]
Motto in English
In the beginning was the Word[citation needed]
TypePrivate liberal arts college and seminary
Established1937 (1937)
AccreditationNECHE (Hellenic College)[1]
ATS (Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology)[2]
Religious affiliation
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America[3]
ChairmanArchbishop Elpidophoros of America[4]
PresidentDemetrios S. Katos[5]
Academic staff
36 total (fall 2023)[6]
Undergraduates64 (fall 2023)[7]
Postgraduates135 (fall 2023)[7]
Address
50 Goddard Ave
,
Brookline
,
Massachusetts
,
United States

42°19′1.53″N 71°7′44.54″W / 42.3170917°N 71.1290389°W / 42.3170917; -71.1290389
CampusUrban, 52 acres (21 ha)[8]
Websitehchc.edu
Map

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.[9][10] The institution is composed of two schools.[11] These are Hellenic College, an undergraduate liberal arts college, and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, a graduate theological school and seminary.[11] The institution is affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.[12]

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.[13][14][15] Its name was soon changed to Holy Cross Theological School, and was moved to Brookline, Massachusetts in 1947.[16][15] 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.[17] Both schools were first accredited in the 1970s.[18]

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.[19][20] 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.[14] In 1937, Pomfret seminary was established as The Greek Archdiocese Institute, which would soon become known as Holy Cross Theological School.[15][13]

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."[21]

The seminary reached its current location in 1947, when it moved from Pomfret to Brookline, Massachusetts.[16]

Creation of modern structure

In 1968, Holy Cross expanded its undergraduate division into a full four-year liberal arts college named Hellenic College.[17]

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.[18]

21st century

In the spring of 2019, the college was warned by the state of Massachusetts and its accreditor of financial problems.[22] This led to college announcing measures to ameliorate financial difficulties, and the resignation of the institution's then president, Christopher Metropulos.[23] 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.[24][25] The college was removed from probation in March 2021, with the NECHE finding progress in relevant areas.[26][27]

Organization and administration

Demetrios S. Katos is the current president of HCHC.[5] The institution is also administered by a Board of Trustees.[28] The chairman of the institution's Board of Trustees is Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.[4]

Academics

Degrees

Hellenic College offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree.[29]

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).[30]

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).[31] 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.[19][20] Holy Cross is also a member of the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium.[30]

Enrollment and faculty

In the fall of 2023, HCHC had 64 undergraduate students enrolled, and 135 graduate students enrolled.[7]

At that time, HCHC had 15 full-time faculty and 18 working part-time, with 3 assistants also employed.[6]

Campus

Archbishop Iakovos Library, Hellenic College

Hellenic College Holy Cross is located on a 52-acre (21 ha) campus in Brookline, Massachusetts, just outside Boston.[8] The campus is located on the former Weld estate.[32] It is notable for having been the longtime practice site of the Boston Celtics.[33]

The institution is located near the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, which is part of the non-canonical Holy Orthodox Church in North America.[34]

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.[35]

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.[36]

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.[37] 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.[38]

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.[39]

Notable people

Notable faculty

Notable alumni

Interments

References

  1. ^ "Hellenic College, Inc. - NECHE". New England Commission of Higher Education. Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology". Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a School". www.ats.edu. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Hellenic College Holy Cross | Our President". www.hchc.edu. Retrieved October 17, 2025. Katos was elected by the Trustees of HCHC, and approved by the Chairman, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
  5. ^ a b "Hellenic College Holy Cross | Our President". www.hchc.edu. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "College Navigator - Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "College Navigator - Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Hellenic College Open House". enrollment.hchc.edu. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  9. ^ Geography Division (April 13, 2021). 2020 Census - Census Block Map: Boston city, MA (PDF) (Map). Suitland, Maryland: U.S. Census Bureau. p. 12 (PDF p. 13/23). Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  10. ^ Geography Division (April 9, 2021). 2020 Census - Census Block Map: Brookline town, MA (PDF) (Map). Suitland, Maryland: U.S. Census Bureau. p. 3 (PDF p. 4/4). Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  11. ^ a b "New England Commission of Higher Education and Hellenic College Holy Cross" (PDF). New England Commission of Higher Education. 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2025. It is a private, independent institution encompassing the undergraduate Hellenic College and the graduate Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
  12. ^ "Find a School". www.ats.edu. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Course Catalog 2009-2011" (PDF). Hellenic College Holy Cross. p. 6. Retrieved November 26, 2025. the origins of the College lie much further back, in the founding of Holy Cross Theological School more than thirty years earlier...from its very beginnings in 1937.
  14. ^ a b "The Pomfret legacy" (PDF). Together Again: Hellenic College Holy Cross Alumni Magazine: 13. Spring 2017.
  15. ^ a b c "Hellenic College Holy Cross | Why HCHC?". www.hchc.edu. Retrieved November 27, 2025. Known first as The Greek Archdiocese Institute, the seminary soon became known as Holy Cross
  16. ^ a b Krindatch, Alexey D. ""American Orthodoxy" or "Orthodoxy in America"? Profiling the Next Generation of Eastern Christian Clergy in the USA". Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
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  22. ^ Krantz, Laura (April 23, 2019). "State warns Hellenic College Holy Cross about grave financial challenges - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  23. ^ "Hellenic College President Steps Down Amid Financial Crisis". April 25, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  24. ^ "Hellenic College Holy Cross in Brookline placed on probation - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  25. ^ Globe, The Boston (August 8, 2019). "Hellenic College Holy Cross at risk of losing accreditation". Boston.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  26. ^ "Waning religion challenges theological schools - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  27. ^ "New England Commission of Higher Education and Hellenic College Holy Cross" (PDF). 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  28. ^ "Hellenic College Holy Cross | Our Leadership". www.hchc.edu. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  29. ^ "HCHC School Catalog:Part II — Hellenic College" (PDF). Hellenic College Holy Cross. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Member School Degree Programs". Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  31. ^ "DaPIP | Location Profile". Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. U.S. Department of Education. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
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  33. ^ Kreig, Andrew (April 24, 1982). "Celtics Notebook: Celts, Awaiting Playoffs Foe, Commune in Religious Setting". Hartford Courant. Vol. CXLV, no. 114 (Daily ed.). p. 68. Retrieved March 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. The world champion basketball team meets every morning at the Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
  34. ^ "Information". thehtm. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  35. ^ "Hellenic College Holy Cross | Semester of Faith". www.hchc.edu. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  36. ^ February 2025, University Communications |. "New academic partnership". Boston College. Retrieved October 17, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ "CrossRoad". CrossRoad Institute. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  38. ^ "Summer Programs". Hellenic College Holy Cross. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
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Further reading

allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_College