BOSTON – George Cantonis, President of the Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, submitted his resignation on Tuesday May 25 to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Board of Trustees. The National Herald has learned that 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.

In a telephone communication with The National Herald Cantonis verified the information received by TNH and said “I don’t want to make any statement.” Asked whether the Archbishop has accepted his resignation, Cantonis said, “I didn’t hear from the Archbishop.”

Archbishop Elpidophoros also told TNH over the phone, “I don’t have any statement.”

In the meantime, discussions are taking place in pursuit of a solution so that Cantonis can recall his resignation. TNH has learned that the date of Cantonis’ letter has the wrong date – May 25, 2019, instead 2021.

Cantonis, a businessman from Florida, assumed the Presidency some 19 months ago at a very critical time, when the School was in deep phthisis administratively, economically, academically and was in danger of losing its academic accreditation from the relevant academic authorities.

As TNH has written several times, Cantonis, with the support of Archbishop Elpidophoros, managed to salvage the accreditation of the School. He also made changes to the faculties of both Hellenic College and Holy Cross, including the dismissal of six professors from the schools. He established rules of administrative and financial transparency and appointed vice presidents for academic affairs and administrative affairs, and just last week he announced the appointment of prominent Princeton New Testament professor Fr. George Parsenios to the Deanship of the School of Theology.

As Cantonis had said in past interviews with TNH, his strategy for the future included the financial reconstruction of the School, finding new donors, and attracting students to both Hellenic College and Holy Cross.

Trustees 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.