The Ahepan Spring 2017 - 18

EDUCATION

AHEPA visits Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology
Pursuant to an invitation from Hellenic
College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology, Past Supreme
President Phillip T. Frangos spent a day
at the school's campus in November
2016. He was accompanied by his
son, Themistocles Frangos, District
13 Secretary and Lakeshore Chapter
205 President, Chicago. They were
received graciously by Mr. Kosta E.
Alexis, vice president, Institutional
Advancement; and member of AHEPA
Athens Chapter 24, Boston; and Mr.
James Skedros, dean of Holy Cross.
Speaking to the Holy Cross Parish
Administration class of more than 20
seminarians in the morning, Frangos
shared the rich history of AHEPA
which was founded to combat bigotry
and racism in America and to help
Greek immigrants thrive in their new
country. He described such anti-Greek
immigrant conditions as the Omaha
riot and widespread Ku Klux Klan
activity which reached even into the
White House and Congress.
Frangos told how AHEPA has
evolved over time while remaining

steadfastly focused on philanthropy,
education, and civic engagement.
Examples cited included establishment and support of the AHEPA
Hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece, the
annual awarding of over $1.5 million in scholarships (including many
to HCHC students), and the AHEPA
National Housing Corporation.
Frangos then spoke of AHEPA's
financial support of Archdiocese programs including the effort to raise $1
million for the building of St. Nicholas
Church and National Shrine. He also
touched on AHEPA's support of St.
Basil's Academy, St. Photios Shrine,
Leadership 100, the annual contribution of thousands of dollars directly to
the Patriarchate, along with support to
individual parishes.
Frangos advised these future Greek
Orthodox clergy leaders on how parishes can and do interact with AHEPA.
He emphasized that AHEPA's strength
is the ability to mobilize the American
Hellenic community at the grassroots
level and to involve parishioners in
supporting Hellenism.

HCHC seminarians had good questions about how to best work with
AHEPA when they enter parish life and
shared stories of AHEPA involvement
in their home communities. At the end
of class, the seminarians presented
Frangos, a long-time fan of the Chicago
Cubs, with a Cubs hat on the occasion
of the Cubs winning their first World
Series since 1908.
In the afternoon, PSP Frangos
addressed an audience of students
from both schools, as well as faculty
and staff, elaborating on themes and
issues central to AHEPA and to the
Orthodox community at large. It was
an equally engaging discussion that
stressed the importance of collaborative relationships between AHEPA and
institutions like Hellenic College Holy
Cross that share common values.
Vice President Alexis concluded,
"Hellenic College Holy Cross is so
grateful to Mr. Frangos for honoring us
with his visit and to AHEPA for its vital
support over many years, at both the
national and local levels, of our school
and our students."

Past Supreme President Frangos, and his son, District 13 Secretary Themis Frangos, with HCHC administration officials and seminarians.

THE AHEPAN · Spring 2017

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