BROOKLINE, MA–The Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology Board of Trustees, under the Chairmanship and spiritual guidance of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, has formed a seven-person search committee to lead a well-structured process to find the next President of the school as it approaches 90 years of educating and spiritually forming Church leaders in the United States.
Members of the search committee include:
- George C Demos, Esq. Co-Chair, Trustee
- Dr. Pano Kanelos, Trustee
- Mark Moraitakis, Trustee
- Fr. Peter Orfanakos, President, Associated Presbyters & Clergy
- Fr. Eugene Pentiuc, Holy Cross Representative
- Dr. Kathleen Ryan, Hellenic College Representative
- Dr. Christine Geranios Zeppos, Co-Chair, Trustee
“Leading Hellenic College Holy Cross is a great honor for whomever becomes the school’s next president. The person selected will steward the only Orthodox undergraduate, graduate school and seminary in the U.S., one that is shaping the next generation of Church leaders and clergy,” said committee co-chair George C. Demos.
Added committee co-chair Dr. Christine Geranios Zeppos, “The new leader steps in at a moment of transformation for the institution and the broader Orthodox community. HCHC is expanding graduate programs in theology and high-demand helping professions, such as counseling, while strengthening its core mission of forming exceptional Orthodox clergy to serve 21st-century faithful. The challenge is great, but the opportunity is extraordinary.”
The search committee was appointed in March, and its initial meeting took place March 27. The search process is expected to take 9 to 12 months, reflecting the commitment to a professional, comprehensive, and exhaustive search process that ensures transparency and meaningful input from stakeholders at every level. This process will include structured listening sessions and surveys engaging hierarchs, clergy, faculty, staff, students, as well as alumni, metropolis councils, parish leaders, laity, and key partner organizations. The comprehensive engagement will help clarify institutional priorities and inform the recruitment of candidates for the presidency.
The school is currently being led by Interim President Rev. Fr. Michael Lambakis, a 2003 graduate from Hellenic College and a 2006 Holy Cross graduate. He returned to HCHCl in August 2025 as Dean of Students after shepherding Annunciation Cathedral in Houston, TX for nearly 20 years as its Dean and as an assistant priest. Fr. Michael is married to Presbytera Renee Constantinou. They have two adult children studying at the school; Andrew at Holy Cross and Nicholas at Hellenic College.
About Hellenic College Holy Cross
Hellenic College Holy Cross is the intellectual, educational, and spiritual center of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. As an institution of higher learning, it is dedicated to the formation of Orthodox Christian leaders—clergy and laity—equipped to serve the Church and society with faith, integrity, and excellence.
