By Theodoros Kalmoukos / National Herald
There is everything to indicate that the Greek Afternoon School of the Boston Cathedral of the Annunciation “closed” while its premises were rented to a Kindergarten of the Protestant Church, from which the Community received a financial benefit.
The building where the school operated is on the ground floor of the Community Center, located at 162 Goddard Ave. Brookline, right next to the headquarters building of the Metropolis of Boston.
The hierarchical head of the Cathedral, Protopresbyter Dimitrios Tonias, in his statements to the National Herald said the school closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the city of Brookline. All his statements are published below.
In a telephone conversation, Metropolitan Methodius of Boston told us that “I do not know anything, now I hear it from you. I will contact the director immediately.”
The principal of the school, Anastasia Moragianni, the President of the Community Council, Bob Badavas, the Vice-President, Mary Klironomou (Kliari), did not respond to messages from the National Herald.
Last year, 2020, the school did not open due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as had been the case of other schools in the Greater Boston area, while some that remained open, such as the school of the Community of Saints Constantine and Helen in Cambridge, were successful and student attendance exceeded every expectation.
This year, however, while several schools opened or are expected to open and start in-person classes in the next few days with the students, the Cathedral’s school will not operate. It is emphasized that a few years ago this school was thriving with a large number of students and was staffed with new and young teachers.
In fact, many expatriate scientists, doctors, university professors, researchers, enrolled their children in the Greek School of the Cathedral, while they were among the first to participate in the educational and national celebrations.
Information from the National Herald indicates that in recent years there has been a recession in the Greek School, which is mainly due to those in charge of the Cathedral community, due to lack of interest and promotion, with the result that it gradually declines and eventually ceases to function.
Father Athanasios Nenes from the Community of the Holy Archangels of Watertown, MA, has been appointed in charge of Greek Education by the Metropolis.
The number of families that make up the Cathedral community today is around 300.
It is emphasized that the Sunday school has opened since last Sunday, September 26, and the courses take place in the classrooms of the Cathedral.
In recent years, under the ministry of Archimandrite Cleopas Strongylis, the current Metropolitan of Sweden and all Scandinavia, restoration works have been carried out on the Cathedral, such as offices, halls, a community hall and the establishment of a museum, which have cost considerable money.
The Cathedral is located at 514 Parker Street, Boston, next to Boston Northeastern University and within walking distance of the Museum of Fine Arts.
When asked why the Greek Cathedral School was closed, speaking to the National Herald, the Hierarchical Head of the Cathedral Community, Protopresbyter Dimitrios Tonias, said: “It was due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the measures imposed on the city of Brookline.
We tried to suggest to the parents to do it remotely but it did not work. Before we do anything, we must first get out of the COVID-19 situation.”
Noting that they have rented the building to a US Kindergarten in Brookline, he said: “You have to look at the requirements they have to comply with everything, it is very expensive, it hinders us from having the school.” He added that “restrictions are imposed, then lifted, now we have the imposition of the use of face mask again.”
When asked if they would return to school when the COVID-19 pandemic was over, Fr. Tonias replied “Of course.”
When we asked him how many members the Cathedral has, he said: “Normally we have three hundred families and since last Sunday we have two hundred and fifty families who have either paid their contribution or have pledged.”
Meanwhile, members of the Cathedral for many decades spoke to the National Herald with the request to maintain their anonymity for obvious reasons and referred to a “crisis” that the Cathedral is going through in recent months due to different opinions over a set of issues.
One of the most controversial issues is that of the replacement of sacred icons, which have existed in the church since its foundation. The cost of replacing the icons is more than half a million dollars.
Due to the tension that was caused, the issue “froze” at the moment while it is believed that at some point it will return. They also mentioned that Archbishop Elpidophoros was informed with a detailed letter.