wfn.org | GOAA- WINDS OF CHANGE ON THE HOLY HILL

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: communications@goarch.org

For Immediate Release
March 2, 2004

Contact:  James Karloutsos
(617) 850-1290

WINDS OF CHANGE ON THE HOLY HILL

Brookline, MA - For over half a century, the campus of Hellenic College and
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology has been called the "Holy
Hill" in tribute to its elevated purpose and elevated site. The
institution's purpose has been clear and unwavering from the beginning: to
provide the best possible education for future priests and for those
committed to lay careers informed by Orthodox Christian principles.
Regrettably, that mission has not been widely known outside HCHC's own
close-knit community. As for its magnificent 52-acre hilltop site just
outside Boston, which commands spectacular skyline views, it has long been
one of the city's best-kept secrets.

All of that is now changing rapidly. A new leadership team is in place,
bringing together seasoned professionals from the academic, religious and
business spheres, whose disparate backgrounds nevertheless converge in a
common vision: to put HCHC on the map--literally and figuratively.  This
leadership team, which includes the School's trustees and its president,
Reverend Nicholas Triantafilou, as well as faculty and key staff members,
has made it a priority to resolve issues of financial and academic
accountability. It has also created a master plan for campus expansion,
incorporating designs for a much-needed student center, new dormitories,
expanded housing for married students and a maintenance facility. Already
in place, thanks to a grant from the Lilly Foundation, are two new 'smart
classrooms' equipped with state-of-the-art technology. It is hoped that all
classrooms will eventually meet this standard.

Not surprisingly, student application and enrollment figures are increasing
along with the School's visibility and credibility. Over the last three
years, enrollment has risen 71% overall, and a remarkable 91% for
seminarians. GPA (Grade Point Average) scores for incoming students in both
schools are also significantly higher than in past.  Yet this gratifying
upturn in quality and quantity comes at a price--the price of housing. Some
appropriate candidates for admission are being turned away simply because
there is not enough space for them at present on campus. And it is
important to note that this housing crunch has ramifications well beyond
the idyllic campus itself: if insufficient numbers of prospective priests
cannot be accommodated at Holy Cross, there will soon not be enough new
clergy to replace the growing number of retirees. Such a disparity could
ultimately affect the entire Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

In addition to planning new construction, the School's leaders must address
the pressing issue of repairs to existing structures and maintenance of the
extensive grounds. Resources to date have precluded any but emergency
repairs and routine maintenance, yet anyone who has ever endured a Boston
winter knows that old buildings and old plantings fare badly in this
environment without constant attention.  Thanks to the generosity of many
donors, who in 2003 alone made contributions totaling a phenomenal
$823,000, some important capital improvements are already complete. The
Chapel, central element and symbol of the campus, has undergone a major
facelift. Its aging roof and heating system have been replaced. Exterior
masonry has been repaired. Cracked walkways have been replaced with
handsome, durable brick. The interior is being repainted, the worn carpet
replaced with granite flooring and the icons restored. Extensive
restoration has also been completed in the Administration Building, the
Archbishop Iakovos Library, the Pappas Gymnasium and three residential
facilities. The National Philoptochos has earmarked substantial funds for
both the Chapel and the cafeteria, while other donors have underwritten the
cost of creating a park, picnic area and playground for students' children.
All in all, the cost of capital improvements completed in 2003 was nearly
$1,000,000.

To stay on course, the School needs an additional $1,000,000 for the second
phase of such improvements. Approximately $4-5,000,000 will be needed to
construct a new student center, $15-20,000,000 for student housing. These
are daunting figures, but there is a fervent hope on the Holy Hill these
days that new stewards will come forward to meet the challenge--and with
hope all things are possible.

To learn more about Phase II of HCHC's master plan, please contact James
Karloutsos, Chief Operating Officer, at 617-850-1290. For information about
naming opportunities, please call Reverend James Katinas in the Office of
Institutional Advancement at 617-850-1317.

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