In celebration of the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, the Order of AHEPA, led by Supreme President E. Chris Kaitson, spearheaded $250,000 worth of scholarships for seminarians attending the Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Representing AHEPA on this incredible occasion, Supreme Secretary Themistocles Frangos attended the celebration on behalf of the Supreme President, speaking to the clergy and remarking the significance of the school. Additionally, Supreme Governor Greg Simones and AHEPA Board of Trustees Secretary Alex Geourntas joined the Supreme Secretary for this celebration of faith and philanthropy.

The scholarships were made possible by the AHEPA Educational Foundation via funds raised by the Supreme President and through the John George Tsitsos Scholarship Fund – an incredibly generous endowment designed to enable students of Hellenic descent to pursue their educational goals for years to come.

During today’s ceremony, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America spoke to the importance of the work AHEPA does to further education for the next generation of Hellenes, remarking the continued generosity of AHEPA’s educational arm.

The AHEPA Educational Foundation is the primary means of AHEPA’s philanthropic support for education – annually granting raised funds to alleviate the significant financial burden faced by today’s students.

“We look forward to continuing the incredible work of this program which actively builds bridges between AHEPA and the clergy who serve as pillars in our Hellenic communities. In this regard, our partnership with Holy Cross is truly one-of-a-kind, allowing us to support our faith, our culture and our future all through the ‘E’ in AHEPA,” said Supreme President Kaitson.

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On the evening of September 14^th, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros performed an agiasmos service of blessing for the new offices of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute (HEI) at Hellenic College Holy Cross. His Eminence was joined in officially opening the new office space by Archon-elect Hon. Michael Huffington, HEI’s chief benefactor, and Archon George Cantonis, former President of Hellenic College Holy Cross.

Speaking afterwards, His Eminence expressed his deepest gratitude for the generosity of Mr. Huffington, commending him as an outstanding example of sharing what we have in support of advancing the Church’s visionary initiatives. Mr. Huffington then affirmed his ongoing investment in the future of HEI by signing a new agreement of support with Hellenic College Holy Cross.

Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Executive Director of HEI, thanked Mr. Huffington again for his “generous and gracious endowment” of the Institute back in 2022, before leading the distinguished guests on a brief tour through the new office space. HEI now occupies the former offices of the Department of Religious Education in the Archbishop Cavadas Administration Building at the heart of Hellenic College Holy Cross’ campus. Entirely refurbished, the new office space also houses a truly “ecumenical library” of several thousand volumes furnished by donations, the most significant of which came from the estate of Rev. Dr. William Rusch, a professor, churchman, and leading scholar of Orthodox-Lutheran relations.

Since opening on the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross in 2023, HEI has immensely enriched the academic and spiritual climate of the school. The Institute has hosted numerous international conferences and symposia, offered several groundbreaking courses on cutting-edge topics in Orthodox theological education, and, most recently, inaugurated a new publishing endeavor, Encounters, in partnership with Holy Cross Orthodox Press and Akritas Books.

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Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church New York City is kicking off its Greek School (Pre-K to 12) on Saturday, September 19th. Every Saturday, the Greek School will teach 2 sessions based on levels on Saturdays from 10:00AM-11:30AM and 11:30AM-1:00PM. Tuition cost will be $1,550 for 1st child, $1,500 for 2nd child, and $1,450 for 3rd child. The Greek School begins September 19, 2026 and ends June 12, 2026. Graduation will be on Sunday, June 13th.

“The goal of Annunciation Church’s Greek School is to teach the Greek language while fostering a strong connection to Hellenic heritage. Our curriculum is designed to accommodate students of diverse backgrounds and varying levels of language proficiency,” said Fr. Sotirios Michalatos, parish priest of Annunciation Church. “In addition to language instruction, the program emphasizes Greek history and culture, helping students thrive in American society while taking pride in their Greek roots.”

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church New York City is located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at West End Avenue and 91st Street. For more information on Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church New York City, visit www.annunciation-nyc.org, email [email protected], or call (212) 724-2070.

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Saint Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church—located at the beginning of Chicago’s famed DuSable Lake Shore Drive—is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

The church’s first Divine Liturgy took place on Christmas Day, 1926. In 1955, the growing parish built its permanent home, which is recognized throughout Chicago due its iconic location and beautiful architecture.  

Like many other enduring parishes throughout the Archdiocese, Greek immigrants were instrumental in founding and sustaining St. Andrew’s during its early years, inspired by their faith and united in purpose, under the guidance of their parish priest.

Their legacy of service continues today as the dedicated clergy and laity of St. Andrew’s work to honor the parish’s first 100 years and look with joy towards the future.

Saint Andrew’s Church invites you to join us for our Centennial Gala on October 10, 2026 at The Westin O’Hare, located in Rosemont, Illinois. Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event are selling quickly. Reserve yours today! 

The St. Andrew’s 100th Anniversary Gala will be a truly special occasion. Come celebrate the faith, family, and ministry that have made St. Andrew’s Chicago the vital cornerstone it is today—and let’s look forward to the next 100 years! 

To RSVP, please visit www.StAndrewOrthodox.church/centennial-gala or call our church office at 773-334-4515.

If you are unable to attend but would like to support our Centennial Vision Fund, aimed at restoring and revitalizing our beloved St. Andrew’s for the next century–your generosity is appreciated! Please click here.

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Students, faculty, friends, and alumni of Hellenic College Holy Cross (HCHC) gathered on the evening of September 13^th to celebrate Great Vespers for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and witness the traditional stavrophoria and rassophoria ceremonies performed with the pastoral blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

Also present in the Holy Cross Chapel and participating in the conferral ceremonies were His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, and His Grace Bishop Anthony of Synada.

At the conclusion of Great Vespers, Archbishop Elpidophoros offered a homily reflecting on the “wisdom” of the Holy Cross. Referencing Proverbs 3:18, read aloud only moments earlier, His Eminence counseled that “If Wisdom is such a Tree of Life, then let us pause for a moment beneath Her shade, to contemplate Her branches, leaves, and fruit. For this Tree of Life is none other than the Holy Cross.”

The Tree of the Holy Cross, His Eminence continued, revealed “something that was discarded; that was overlooked by the mighty of this world. And indeed, true Wisdom is disdained by those who seek only their own advantage,” for true wisdom alone “is manifest in Χριστὸν Ἐσταυρωμένον – Christ Crucified!”

Addressing the seminarians soon to receive their cross or exorasson, His Eminence reminded them that “each of these symbolizes the Tree of Life, the Tree of Wisdom, the Tree of the Cross to which you are dedicated, and whose Sophia exceeds every thought, every concept, every view. Allow this Wisdom to transform you from the inside out.”

> Read His Eminence’s full remarks

During the stavrophoria and rassophoria ceremonies, 29 seminarians beginning their second year of studies received the cross, and seventeen seminarians beginning their final year of studies received the exorasson. Nine HCHC students were also made readers by His Eminence.

After the conferral ceremonies, the HCHC community gathered in the Maliotis Cultural Center for the 2026 Academic Convocation. Following a processional performed by the St. Romanos the Melodist Byzantine Choir, V. Rev. Archim. Dr. Bartholomew Mercado, Interim Dean of Students and Chaplain at HCHC, offered welcoming remarks. Rev. Fr. Michael Lambakis, Interim President of HCHC, and Dr. Nicholas Ganson, Dean of Hellenic College, spoke afterwards. Each emphasized that the mission of HCHC is to educate the future of the Orthodox Church both in this country and throughout the world.

Rev. Dr. Eugen Pentiuc, Dean of the Holy Cross School of Theology, delivered the Convocation Address.

“Never before have we had such immediate access to knowledge,” Fr. Pentiuc observed. Yet now more than ever we are called to ask ourselves: What is education for? “The biggest crisis of education today,” Fr. Pentiuc declared, “is teleological.” We receive education “in order to offer and give” to others what we have received, “to become the priests and offerings” of our own lives.  Fr. Pentiuc ended his address by affirming that “the Cross is the pattern and symbol of our education at this school.”

The evening concluded with the Pastoral Address and Benediction of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros. His Eminence noted with delight that HCHC welcomes this year the largest incoming class of students in its history. HCHC “exists to form persons,” His Eminence said, echoing the remarks of Fr. Pentiuc, “made for love, communion, sacrifice, and repentance.”

To underscore this point, Archbishop Elpidophoros revealed on-stage a late 14^th Century euchologion from Constantinople, anonymously donated to the Archbishop Iakovos Library at HCHC through the tireless efforts of Fr. Bartholomew Mercado. His Eminence presented the book to Dr. Menios Papadimitriou, the newly appointed Director of the Archbishop Iakovos Library. “The marks upon its pages,” His Eminence reflected, “are traces of persons who lived, learned, worked, and prayed”—a treasure of inestimable and irreplaceable value.

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When Evie Demakis and her fellow Girl Delegates arrived at a United Nations conference on artificial intelligence, there were no seats left. But rather than turn the young women away, officials insisted they stay, and the Girl Delegates sat on the floor to engage in a global discussion on the impact of AI.

This memory became one of Evie’s favorites from her time in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Girl Delegates to the U.N. program. Founded by Niki Devaris-Morgulis and operating through the Archdiocese’s Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations, the program allows Greek Orthodox high-school girls to utilize their unique talents and uplift them to go forth and become the next generation of change-makers and peace-builders.  

Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Evie’s home parish is St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church. Evie now attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is a double major in Business and Global Studies, with a focus on Middle East politics; her interests include advocacy for financial stability, sustainable development, women’s rights, and sustainability in global policy. She also enjoys golf, swimming, yoga, baking, and cooking. 

Evie was a Girl Delegate in 2025, during her senior year of high school. She returned to the program this summer as an intern, assisting Niki in preparations for the 2026-2027 cohort by managing social media, contributing to strategic outreach, and streamlining the application process.

As part of her internship, Evie also works with the Working Group on Girls to plan the International Day of the Girl, an major event that coincides with one of the Girl Delegate program’s in-person conferences in New York.

Evie was inspired to apply when she saw how the Girl Delegate program uplifts Greek Orthodox women and facilitates their involvement in the church.

“I am a charter member of the St. Phoebe ministry at my home parish and was extremely interested in visible involvement of girls within the Church,” Evie says. “ The Girl Delegate program is a global manifestation of visible women’s involvement in all areas of life.”

> Previously: Girl Delegate finds her voice at the United Nations

Through the Girl Delegate program, Evie gained not only exposure to global issues and international organizations, but also a community of young women who share many of her interests and ambitions. She formed friendships with girls across the country who continue to motivate one another and talk about their goals, future aspirations, and struggles. 

At the center of that community is a shared faith and culture. For Evie, the program provides an opportunity to use both to promote inclusivity and demonstrate the importance of loving one’s neighbor. It also gives young Greek Orthodox women the opportunity to become informed and active participants in their churches, communities, and beyond. 

“Young girls have the opportunity to be at the forefront of decision making,” Evie says. “It is their duty to be involved, and to be well-informed representatives within their church and local community.” 

Evie’s time as a Girl Delegate also helped shape the direction she hopes to take in the future. Her desire to work internationally was strengthened by the program, which showed her how much she enjoys working with people, intensified her global perspective, and exposed her to the work of international organizations firsthand.

> Previously: How the Archdiocese’s Girl Delegate Program shaped one woman’s path

 From attending U.N. conferences as a high school student to now helping prepare the next cohort of girls, Evie’s involvement in the Girl Delegate program has come full circle. The program that once gave her the opportunity to take part in conversations on a global stage is now one she is helping make accessible for the young women who follow. 

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