September 28, 2016

To:   The Rev. Christopher Metropulos, President
        Dr. James Skedros, Dean of Holy Cross
        and Tenured Faculty of Holy Cross School of Theology

From: Metropolitan Methodios

Rev. brothers and friends,

As you know, I received a copy of the memorandum email sent to you by Dr. Evie Holmberg. its contents should be of great concern for our school and the Archdiocese, and not be ignored because some individuals are made uncomfortable by its contents.

For too long - including the years of my tenure - we have preferred to "sweep under the rug" issues of concern rather than addressing them in a professional - not to say Christian Orthodox - manner. This must end!

It should be, for example, unacceptable that Dr. Holmberg's computer was "hacked" on more than one occasion, the first time surely by an individual from within the school knowledgeable in computer technology (student?) (faculty member?). It is unacceptable that these incidents were left unininvestigated.

In her memo Dr. Holmberg refers to courses she has taught at Holy Cross for decades. I can testify that she has encountered countless obstacles in her pursuit to exercise her responsibilities in a professional manner (including the publication of books she produced together with Fr. Tonias.) It is regrettable - and should be unacceptable - that Holy Cross students have the audacity to criticize the very same professor who was consistently commended by students at Boston University when she taught at that institution. Some students at Holy Cross have the gall to say she is "too old" to teach, while others opine that she should replace the text she uses for New Testament Greek with another handbook - as if they had years of experience in teaching this course themselves! Perhaps they were advised by other "experts."

Just as students are not in a position to evaluate tenured professors or the educational texts they use, neither do recently arrived individuals who have been engaged by the school (through questionable academic process) have the right to opine concerning senior tenured faculty of all departments.

The proficiency of our students in modern, New Testament, liturgical, and patristic Greek as well as their teleturgics skills, is often questioned by bishops and clergy. It is easy to hold the professors responsible for this situation. It is not the fault of the faculty, but the church at large ­beginning with its hierarchs and priests. There seems to be a prevailing attitude championed by some that "in this country, in this time" knowledge of Greek is not compulsory. Students can learn Orthodox theology based on translations of the works of the Fathers who originally wrote in Greek! Students need not understand the epistle and Gospel readings or the hymnology of our church in Greek as long as they do not make mistakes when they read. Ridiculous!

Students who apply for acceptance to Holy Cross get a clear message from both bishops and priests, that knowledge of Greek is no longer important. It is sad to note that the Sunday Gospel reading is no longer rendered in Greek in many of our parishes throughout the Archdiocese. What message are we giving today's and tomorrow's students? Enough for now.

Let me end by saying that we owe a great debt to Dr. Holmberg and the other professors at Hellenic College - Holy Cross that have taught Greek over the last decades. They continue their dedicated service in a professional manner while facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles.


Cc: Dr. Evie Holmberg