BOSTON -The year-end recrudescence of the financial problems of the Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline include signals that long-time personnel might soon be fired.
The National Herald has written many times about excessively high numbers of personnel, including professors, at the institution that currently enrolls 154 students, the lowest number in recent years.
TNH has learned from exclusive sources that the presidency of the school is trying desperately to find $1.5 million dollars in order to continue to function as all its regular sources of funding have been exhausted, including those of its endowment fund.
A closed-door meeting took place at the School on December 14 presided by Archbishop Demetrios of America who is also chairman of the Board of trustees. The vice chairman continues to be Thomas Lelon, who served as president of Hellenic College and Holy Cross during the tenure of the late Archbishop Iakovos. Present at the meeting was Elaine Allen, treasurer of the Archdiocesan Council.
In a recent teleconference with the Executive Committee of the Board of trustees the possibility of leasing – or, according to other sources from within the school – selling of real estate, was discussed because the school is in great need of money to meet its obligations, including the payroll.
It is reminded here that many times in the past, even in the days of Archbishop Iakovos, attempts were made to sell part of the site of the school to build apartment units but the efforts ceased at the last minute after The National Herald had revealed them.
The National Herald has learned that the president of the school has been constantly calling Greek-American businessmen asking for economic assistance, but there has not been any substantial response.
In the meantime, the legal battle between the school and the Maliotis Cultural Center continues. The School is trying to take over the administration of the center from its directors, the Friends of the Maliotis Cultural Center. The center promotes Hellenism through its Hellenic Cultural programs. For years the Maliotis Center “doesn’t sit right” with individuals who reportedly are trying to stifle efforts that promote Hellenic Culture and Civilization.
The main financial backer of the theological school is the Leadership 100 organization which has donated approximately ten million dollars in recent years according to its official news releases. The monies are designated for scholarships and for financial assistance to those students who are enrolled in the Master of Divinity Degree program that leads towards the Holy priesthood.
It is emphasized here Leadership 100 has become a virtual fund raiser for the school as well as for the various departments of the Archdiocese, the so called “national ministries” which are also financed by the general budget of the Archdiocese.
Since 1998 under the chairmanship of the well-known businessman and philanthropist George Behrakis, Leadership 100 became an independent legal entity apart from the Archdiocese in order to protect its endowment – which today stands at approximately one hundred million dollars – from law suits related to pedophilia and other perverted activities of the clergy of all ranks.
Members of Leadership 100 who have completed their pledge to the organization told TNH that the school is asking desperately $500,000 dollars, but the organization is not willing to give anything until its discusses the issue at its annual conference in February.
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