BOSTON – George Cantonis will remain at the Presidency of Hellenic College – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology after he recalled his resignation in an announcement addressed: “All HCHC Community.”

In his announcement, Cantonis wrote the following: “I am pleased to let you know that I have withdrawn my resignation from the position of President of Hellenic College Holy Cross.

My stated intent to resign stemmed from issues that had caused me great concern. Fortunately, however, subsequent highly productive discussions have resulted in the resolution of those issues and a clear path ahead.

I look forward with renewed optimism and commitment to continuing in my role as your President, and ask for your prayers as we work together to build a stronger, more vibrant school in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Faithfully,

George M. Cantonis

President.”

As TNH reported, Cantonis submitted his resignation to the Archbishop and to the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, May 25. Among  the reasons that led Cantonis to resign after almost 19 months of service as the School’s president “were some actions and decisions made by Archbishop Elpidophoros regarding the governance of the School without adhering to due process or even notifying the Trustees.”

Trustees had told TNH that “Archbishop Elpidophoros up to now never missed an opportunity to praise Cantonis and his work at the School, but certain recent actions of the Archbishop which perhaps are connected with the election to the rank of bishop of Very Reverend Father Athenagoras Ziliaskopoulos, the Chaplain of the School, have given the impression that Cantonis no longer enjoys the support of the Archbishopric which is necessary for the fulfillment of his presidential duties.”

Cantonis had gone to New York and met with the Archbishop on May 20 to express his concerns. He said in a telephone interview to TNH that “as the conversation unfolded, I didn’t feel that I had [any other] option.” When he returned to Boston, he wrote his letter of resignation, which he submitted on Tuesday, May 25. There was no further communication with the Archbishop until Tuesday, June 1.

Cantonis in a telephone interview told TNH that “on the 7th of June, I have a meeting with NECHE that was planned weeks ago. It is the normal follow-up to the meeting that occurred that released us from probation. It is a normal procedural meeting.”

When asked if he would tell the authorities about submitting his resignation, he replied that, “I would have to be transparent with my situation, which is why I hope to have a resolution by then.”

There were extensive talks and agreements with Archbishop Elpidophoros on June 1, which continued on June 4 at the School of Theology. Meetings between Elpidophoros, Cantonis, and Athenagoras during the weekend of June 5 and 6 at the School, where Athenagoras’s ordination to the Episcopacy took place, were also instrumental to smoothening out the bumps on the road and finding resolutions, which finally convinced Cantonis to withdraw his resignation.

Members of the Board of Trustees told TNH that there will soon be announcements about changes and regarding persons and positions at the School which will be revelatory regarding the agreements made between Elpidophoros and Cantonis.