✠ Synaxis in Honor of the Archangel Gabriel

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Engraved in stone at the entrance of the Administration Building at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, you will find these words, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34). For the students at our beloved Scholé, these words exemplify the commitment they have made to serve the Church. These words also apply to our lives as Orthodox Christians, for we are all called to carry the cross of Christ and follow Him in our daily lives and in our thoughts, words and deeds.

The students who study on The Holy Hill, as it is called, are answering a calling from the Lord. Whether their vocation will be the priesthood or as a lay leader, they have chosen a path for their lives that will provide for the perpetuation of our faith. And while that call to serve the church may not be received by every person, we all still have an obligation to support that call. The education offered at the only Greek Orthodox Theological school in our Archdiocese is a responsibility that we all must answer.

The alumni of Hellenic College Holy Cross serve throughout the world as hierarchs, clergy, scholars, missionaries, and in many other capacities. Faculty members are known internationally for their scholarly and practical accomplishments, from patristics and theology to Byzantine music and youth ministry. They bring their many experiences and knowledge into their classrooms in order to prepare their students for their vocations, most of whom serve in our Archdiocese. Many believe that as a result, we have some of the best educated Orthodox clergy and lay workers in our nation.

Any institution of higher learning requires generous and continuous support from its alumni and those who believe in its mission. Have the universities you attended ever stopped asking for donations and support? We, as a Metropolis, must do more to support the School. Therefore, I ask that each parish of our Metropolis pass a special tray on Sunday March 31, the Sunday of the Cross, for Hellenic College Holy Cross.

Please give generously for this most worthwhile cause, so that we can secure not just the future of the School, but provide for the best education of our clergy and lay leaders. Donations should be made payable to: Metropolis of San Francisco (Memo: HCHC), and sent to 245 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.

Thanking you for your generosity and ongoing prayers for our beloved School, and beseeching the Lord’s blessings upon your continued journey through Great Lent, I remain,

With Love in Christ,
+ G E R A S I M O S
Metropolitan of San Francisco