MyHCHC
At Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, our mission is to prepare men and women for leadership by creating an environment that fosters growth in knowledge, faith, and service. Because of its Orthodox Christian identity, the Hellenic College Holy Cross environment is not passive when it comes to the question of faith. It does not hesitate to raise the question of faith. On the contrary, it recognizes that faith is precious and that society gains when its leaders are grounded in faith after having devoted themselves to an experience wherein their faith can be deepened. Our school environment, with Holy Cross Chapel at its heart, provides people with the opportunity to have such an experience.
Holy Cross Chapel is located at the highest point of the Hellenic College Holy Cross campus. It is built in the Byzantine style typical of the 11th and 12th centuries and modeled after the Church of the Holy Apostles in Athens, Greece.
Under the leadership of Archbishop Michael of blessed memory, the Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA) raised the funds for the construction of the Chapel. The Chapel is dedicated to the memory of the Archbishop and all of those who came to America in earlier years and planted the faith here. The first services in the Chapel were held at the graduation exercises in 1963. Beautiful mosaics of the Pantocrator and the Platytera by Demetrios Dukas grace the interior.
Extensive renovations to the interior and exterior of the Chapel were made in recent years. Many relics in the Chapel are available for veneration. A large blessing cross with a piece of the True Cross is kept in the sanctuary. Three hierarchs are buried outside, behind the apse on the east side of the Chapel: Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America, Metropolitan Silas of New Jersey, and Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos.
Fr. Bartholomew graduated from Hellenic College in 2012 with a BA in Religious Studies and went on to Holy Cross, where he earned two degrees: the Master of Divinity and the Master of Theology. He then embarked on his doctoral studies in the field of Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. Ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 2017, he returned to the United States in 2020 and served as the Registrar of the Metropolis of New Jersey until 2021, when His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America appointed him as an archivist of the Archdiocese. His Eminence ordained Fr. Bartholomew to the Holy Priesthood in December 2021 and soon after appointed him Director of the GOA Department of Archives, a position he held while also serving as Proistamenos of the St. George and St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Harlem, NY. His Eminence then appointed Fr. Bartholomew HCHC Chaplain in August 2022, a position he holds while also serving as an instructor of Canon Law at Holy Cross.
About this dual role, FR. Bartholomew says, “It is hard to describe just how invigorating and exciting it is to engage with our students every day. I have the unique joy of being able to do this both as the Chaplain and as an instructor, which allows me to make a connection with them on academic and personal levels.”
Yianni Tsamutalis is a fourth year M.Div. student from the parish of St. Andrew in Randolph, New Jersey. His experience these last few years at Holy Cross has been very formative and has confirmed his love for the liturgical life of the Church. Prior to Holy Cross he studied biotechnology at Rutgers University. He is looking forward to serving the HCHC community as assistant ecclesiarch.
Gabriel came to Holy Cross, where he is a third-year seminarian in the Master of Divinity program, after earning his undergraduate degree in English Literature. He says, "The Chapel is the heart and soul of our Scholi, and I am honored beyond words to be able to serve both the School and Our Lord here on a daily basis."
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