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Orthodox Observer - January 1997

Synodical Committee Appointed for HC/HC

NEW YORK — Archbishop Spyridon, in his capacity as president of the Holy Eparchical Synod, recently named a Synodical committee to oversee the operation of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Theological School in Brookline, Mass.

The committee consists of Bishop Maximos of Pittsburgh, a Synod member, and Bishop Philotheos of Meloa, Synod secretary.

The two-member panel has the responsibility of visiting the school on a monthly basis to evaluate its administrative, academic and financial progress.

In a separate decision His Eminence also named Bishop Philotheos of Meloa as the Archdiocese director of personnel.

His Grace has served as assistant to the Archbishop since his consecration as a bishop in 1971, and as vicar of the Archdiocese District and chief secretary of the Holy Synod.

A native of Constantinople, he completed his theological studies at the University of Athens in 1959. He served as a deacon at the Cathedral in Athens, and also officiated at worship services in the chapel of the Royal Palace before coming to the United States in 1960 to serve as Archbishop Iakovos' deacon.

Bishop Philotheos was ordained a priest in 1961 and served as a pastor at several parishes before he was elevated to the rank of bishop.

In another personnel change, the Archbishop appointed the Very Rev. Evangelos Kourounis as director of the Archdiocese Registry Office in early December. The department keeps the vital statistics of the Greek Orthodox faithful, including affidavits and certificates of marriage, baptisms, divorce and deaths.

Fr. Kourounis, who has served as New Jersey Diocese chancellor since 1993, continues in that position.

He also was named as ecclessiarch of St. Paul chapel at the Archdiocese.

Archimandrite Kourounis was born in New York in 1961, the child of immigrants from Kalymnos. He studied at the parochial schools of St. Eleftherios and St. Spyridon in New York and completed his theological studies at Hellenic College/Holy Cross Theology School in Brookline.

After graduation, he taught at a Catholic high school in New York and also served as dean of students and faculty.

He did post-graduate work at the Ecumenical Institute near Geneva, Switzerland and he also served as deacon at the Ecumenical Patriarchate Center in Chambesy.

After returning to New York, he served as deacon to Archbishop Iakovos, and as assistant archivist.

He was ordained a presbyter on July 30, 1989, and assigned to St. Demetrios Church in Astoria where he remained for four years.

[ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 62, No. 1122 - January 1997 - p. 3 ]