Met. Methodios Unable to Multi-Task, Culture of Fear at HCHC

Authentic Transparency and Accountability - May 1, 2019

There is a culture of fear running through the heart of HCHC. The students are afraid to speak with one another because of the terrible conditions at the School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. One upperclassman wrote to us saying "the School needs to be closed down immediately."

"The administration and professors purposely blame someone else thinking they have no involvement in the destruction of this place," said another student.

He continued saying, "We hear respectable priests telling us we need to support this place despite the poor quality of education. We are being told to support the people WHO ARE the problem!"

To many students there has been a sigh of relief. They are thankful to New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) for listening to their requests to demand responsible action by the school officials. NECHE issued an official Notation to HCHC during their latest meeting saying,

“At its meeting April 12, 2019, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) voted to issue a Notation with respect to Hellenic College, Inc. because the Commission found that the College’s accreditation may be in jeopardy if current conditions continue or worsen with respect to the Commission’s standards on Planning and Evaluation and Institutional Resources. An institution issued a Notation will be closely monitored by the Commission, including a focused evaluation within two years to assess the institution’s success in addressing the identified concerns.

If the Commission finds the institution has successfully addressed the concerns, it will remove the Notation and specify further monitoring. If the Commission has reason to believe that the institution may or may not meet one or more Standards for Accreditation, the Commission will ask the institution to show cause why it should not be on probation or why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. If the Commission finds that the concerns have not been sufficiently addressed, the Commission may issue a continued Notation.”

Many students, and alumni, are glad that a Notation is being issued because it validates the frustration they have continually experienced with the Administration officials for decades.

"Most professors get away with teaching nothing important and know they will not be held accountable," said an ordained graduate of the seminary. He continued saying, "The Metropolitans of the Eparchial Synod and Administration officials are purposely instituting a culture of fear at the seminary. The professors purposely choose not to teach the students as a form of revenge against the decisions of the hierarchs, and the hierarchs do not financially support the school as a form of revenge against the professors."

There have been many allegations describing threats students have received (i.e. students will be refused ordination, etc.) if they did not comply with certain questionable decisions by the school. They threaten the students with every little thing and take the joy of the Resurrection out of the lives of each of the students.

"Some question why the parishes are in bad shape. All you need to do is look at the School as your answer," said another graduate.

"The civil officials have blatantly said that our School is pathetic. They are very close to revoking our status because of the lack of a good education. If the education is so poor, can we all finally wake up and realize why our parishes are not growing? Can we acknowledge that our Metropolitans are responsible for this mess? Can we finally tell our hierarchs YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE? If the Metropolitans believe in the Day of Judgment they need to RESIGN IMMEDIATELY!"

Every student who has complained about the Greek language component for the last 30 years is able to recount horror memories from their experiences. A majority of the students and graduates would unequivocally state that the threats they received for offering feedback on a poorly instructed Greek language program is enough to organize a support group. This can be no surprise because we have a news organization writing praise worthy articles about Professor Aristotle Micholopoulos, who most students would argue is one of the worst professors at the School.

When the students begin to advocate that the School be shut down, it's time to listen. Beyond the issues of the administration not taking student feedback seriously, many students are questioning the logic of assigning Metropolitan Methodios of Boston as the Interim President.

Metropolitan Methodios is a Past President of HCHC who was removed because of his incompetency to handle the pressures of the School 25 years ago, and somehow he was determined to be qualified again. Of course, his assignment as interim President does not bode well for any student who has lodged a complaint against Professor Evie Holmberg, another professor that many students would advocate needs to be removed immediately.

The appointment of Metropolitan Methodios has people scratching heads as he barely has been involved in the well-fare of the School over the last 25 years. His lack of involvement at the School, even though his office is located 2 blocks away, speaks about his character. When students were having daily reader services in the Chapel because the priests at the School did not want to serve, Metropolitan Methodios would not bother to help find a priest to support the School.

The faithful need to strongly consider how Metropolitan Methodios is able to multi-task two major responsibilities when he is allegedly in declining health. Many faithful Christians are able to notice that he has difficulty walking up and down stairs.

But more importantly, after two years of an on-going issues with the former priest of Arlington, Massachusetts - Fr. Nicholas Kastanas - Metropolitan Methodios has been unsuccessful at reconciling the situation. Last anyone heard, Father Nicholas will not be transferred. Where is Dr. Lewis Patsavos when you need him to explain the canonical ramifications of this action. We need a leader who has a history of positive attitude towards moving the Church forward, not a destructive leader who has a problematic history of being ineffective.

Metropolitan Methodios is so ineffective as a leader and hierarch that one of his priests had to sue him. Can you imagine what it must of been like for Father Nick Kastanas? Your spiritual father refuses to support you and the only way to defend yourself is to sue your hierarch, knowing that it is the right thing to do despite the tragic consequences. If Metropolitan Methodios was a competent leader then he would of practiced a message of mercy and forgiveness instead of revenge and brainwashing. Metropolitan Methodios has deliberately portrayed his Archpriesthood as being an aggressive spiritual leader who is checked-out from the realities of our society. This is not our words, this is based on his actions.

NECHE better be paying close attention. Metropoltian Methodios does not have a strong record of improving situations.

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May 1, 2019 ]