Orthodox Summer Program for High School Juniors and Seniors

It is that time of year again when Christian Orthodox teens have the opportunity to attend “CrossRoad”, a 10-day academic summer institute which helps prepare high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and take their connection to their faith to all new levels.

The summer program is offered by the Office of Vocation and Ministry (OVM) at Hellenic College Holy Cross and participants attend from all around the country. The 10-day program has proven year after year to be a meaningful and memorable life experience which continues to influence those who partake in it for years to come, for students and staff alike.

CrossRoad has six graduate students from the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology as program staff, and they simultaneously explore their own vocation while becoming some of the best-trained youth workers in the Orthodox Church.

Throughout the program, Orthodox Christian juniors and seniors aged 16 to 18 experience daily worship, take theology classes from some of the best professors in the country, visit local parishes, serve their neighbors, tour the city, and even spend a day at the beach.

Ann Mitsakos Bezzerides, PhD. and the OVM Director at Hellenic College, who also participated in the designing and launching of CrossRoad in 2004, explained to the Greek Reporter that “so often CrossRoad participants make friends who really become friends for life.

“Sixteen of the kids from this past July’s session got together over New Year’s,” she said. She added that “From the older alumni we know others become koumbaroi in one another’s weddings, etc.”

The program was created in 2004 thanks to a five-year Lilly Endowment grant to Hellenic College. It soon became so popular that in 2008, it expanded into two ten-day sessions.

In the years since “graduating” from the Lilly Endowment grant, CrossRoad’s paradigm of excellence in leadership, programing, and education has allowed it to develop a strong base of support, as well as an active alumni cohort.

CrossRoad is offered in two American cities, Boston and Chicago. The application priority deadline is February 1, 2019, so those interested in attending are encouraged to do so right away.

There are three separate sessions available. Sessions 1 and 2 of the program take place in Boston from June 15 – June 25, and July 2 – July 12, respectively. Session three will be held in Chicago from July 23 – August 2.

You may apply online at www.crossroadinstitute.org