HCHC ESTABLISHES HUFFINGTON ECUMENICAL INSTITUTE

Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology has announced the establishment of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross. The mission of the Institute will be to foster dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Churches through programs, events, and other channels. HCHC will be solely responsible for its staffing and all aspects of its operation. A search will begin shortly for an Executive Director, who will be full-time faculty reporting to the Dean of Holy Cross. The Institute will be in communication with its counterpart, the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. 

The establishment of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross was made possible by the generosity of Michael Huffington, a noted philanthropist and faithful Greek Orthodox Christian, who donated $2.5 million toward the establishment of the Institute, and by a matching gift of $2.5 million by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The contribution by the Archdiocese was funded from the proceeds of the estate of Suzanne Mados, whose bequest provided, in part, for the support of educational institutions operated by the Archdiocese. The Huffington Ecumenical Institute will be located on campus at what was formerly known as the Barletta property, which includes a building suitable for office and meeting space, as well as the housing of visiting speakers. 

HCHC President George M. Cantonis said, “This sacred and unique institution can now expand its academic and spiritual outreach thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Michael Huffington and our Archdiocese. We look forward to repaying their faith in the mission of Hellenic College Holy Cross by making the Huffington Ecumenical Institute an internationally recognized center of scholarship dedicated to greater understanding and cooperation among Christians.”