His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America announced on January 30, 2020, the re-establishment of the High Council for Greek Education in the U.S.
The Archbishop made the announcement during an evening celebration for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs and the Day of Greek Letters at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.
The celebration for the Three Hierarchs featured a very illuminating lecture by the Very Rev. Prof. Maximos Constas titled “Sing to the Lord a New Song: The Three Hierarchs and the Theology of Music.” Fr. Maximos is the Interim Dean of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Mass.
Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis, Director of the Department of Greek Education made introductory remarks and presented the program. Dr. Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece offered greetings and thoughtful reflections. Four students from the Archdiocesan Schools spoke on the influence of the Three Hierarchs to the young generation impressing the audience with their flawless oratorical skills in Greek. The Cathedral School Choir under the direction of Theodore Albanos chanted the Apolytikion of the feast and the Trisagion Hymn.
At the end of the program the Archdiocesan Music Ensemble performed several traditional songs from the Three Hierarch’s motherland; and finally the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir under the direction of Dr. Demetrios Kehagias closed the evening with hymns.
Archbishop Elpidophoros, in his reflections, thanked Archbishop Demetrios who had been invited and attended the event and congratulated the main speaker Fr. Maximos Constas. His Eminence also congratulated Dr. Koularmanis on his recent appointment.
Further to the Archbishop’s announcement during the event, the High Council for Greek Educationin the U.S. is an outcome of the results of the First Greek Education Conference that took place last November at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, N.Y., and it will consist of prominent individuals, professors, educators, administrators and clergy from throughout the United States.
The members will form various sub-committees for policy and procedures, curriculum, and teacher professional development and their work will assist Archdiocesan efforts to revive Greek Education throughout the United States. Mrs. Athena Kromidas, who for many years was the Principal of William Spyropoulos Day School, has been appointed President, while Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis, Director of the Department of Greek Education will be Ex-Officio Vice President.
Archbishop Elpidophoros congratulates the following remarkable individuals, members of this Council, who accepted to be part of this effort to support Hellenic Paideia:
1) Mrs. Athena Kromidas, Former Principal of William Spyropoulos Day School
2) Mrs. Katerina Kontegeorgaki, Metropolis of Denver, Director of Greek Language and Cultural Center
3) Dr. Aristotelis Michopoulos, Professor/Classics and Greek Studies/HCHC/ Metropolis of Boston
4) Dr. Illias Tomazos, Director, Paideia Org. – Co-Coordinator, University of Connecticut
5) Dr. F. Papadimitrakopoulos, Professor, UCONN/ Principal St. George Greek-Afternoon School, Hartford
6) Mrs. Anna Megaris, Metropolis of New Jersey/Principal, St. John’s Theologian Greek School, Tenafly, NJ
7) Ms. Maria Stamoulis, Director of Education, Metropolis of Pittsburgh
8) Rev. Fr. Vasilis Tsourlis, Metropolis of Atlanta
9) Ms. Katerina Economou, Greek Instructor/ Metropolis of SF/ Portland, Oregon
10) Mr. Elias Petrou, University of California/ Thesaurus Linguae Graeca
11) Ms. Tessy Tzoutzourakos, American Language Inst. Rossier School of Education
12) Rev. Fr. Christos Christakis, Metropolis of Detroit/ Buffalo, NY
13) Mr. Stefanos Papazaharias, Assistant Dean of Graduate Admissions/ Mod. Greek Language Prof. SUNY, Buffalo
14) Mr. John Logothetis, Metropolis of Chicago
15) Dr. Ioanna Lekkakou, Charter Academy, Metropolis of San Francisco
16) Ms. Vivian Selenikas, Principal, Long Island City High School/ World languages Dept/NYCDOE
17) Dr. Eleni Natsipoulou, Assist. Professor/Teachers College, Columbia U. and Teacher, Long Island City High School
18) Dr. Vasiliki Tsigas Fotinis, Creative CommUNITY Learning Consultant
19) Mrs. Anna Sakkis, Project Manager, Ellinopoula.com, San Francisco, CA
20) Rev. Fr. Nikiforos Fakinos, St. Demetrios Church, Merrick, NY
21) Dr. Maria Kaliambou, Senior Lector/ Modern Greek Department/Yale University
22) Dr. Maria Mathioudakis, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki/ Odyssey Charter, Delaware
23) Mr. Dimitris Dandalos, Co-Creator Odyssey Charter School, Wilmington, Delaware
24) Dr. Fevronia Soumakis, Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queens College, CUNY
25) Dr. Eva Prionas, Lecturer in Modern Greek, Stamford University
26) Mr. Stavros Papaloizos, Papaloizos Publishing
27) Dr. George Melikokis, Former Principal, NYC Day Schools
28) Dr. G. Carayannoupoulos, Metropolis of Denver/ St. Basil’s Church, TX
29) Mr. Nikos Nikolidakis, Former Director of Education, Greek Consulate
30) Mrs. Meropi Kyriakou, President of “Prometheus” Greek Teachers Association
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