Boston, MA – An extended paternal dialogue with the students and families, including many young children, and an emotional visit to the Philoxenia House and prayer service with the young patients, highlighted the pastoral visit of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, to Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA from March 6-8, during a six-day visit to the United States.

His All Holiness was in residence on campus and held meetings with the Eparchial Synod of Bishops, Trustees, New England Clergy and Alumni and had an extensive tour of the Archbishop Iakovos Library Resource Center.

Over 250 people attended a reception and dinner Thursday evening, March 7, in honor of His All Holiness celebrating the 8oth Anniversary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the 65th Anniversary of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology at the Harvard Club of Boston. Welcoming His All Holiness were His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Aneon, Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of Boston; Mr. George Behrakis, chairman of the Patriarchal Host Committee and Mr. George Chatzimachelakis, Consul General of Greece in Boston.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America warmly introduced His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who inspired the guests with his comments of enthusiasm for the progress of the church in America, in particular for Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.