Church

Published by The National Herald, February 4, 2005

Three Hierarchs Church in Brooklyn Honors its Teachers

By Demetris Tsakas
Special to The National Herald

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox community of the Three Hierarchs Church in Brooklyn celebrated its patron Saints’ feast day last Saturday, January 29.

That evening, the community honored its teachers, Fofo Mansini and Demetra Kokoros, as well as the Onassis Public Benefit Foundation during their Greek Letters celebration, held at the Golden Room of its the community center.

The celebrations were attended by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America; Onassis Foundation Executive Director Ambaassador Loucas Tsilas; Onassis Foundation Vice President Ambassador Michael Sotirhos; newly appointed Archdiocese Director Education John Efthimiopoulos; noted Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and members of other Greek American communities of Brooklyn.

Chairman of the Greek Letters Day Celebration Nicholas Boudouris delievered the evening’s keynote speech, stressing the contributions of the Three Hierarchs (Saints basil the Great, John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian) to the advancement and preservation of the Greek language and culture, citing the Saints’ diachronic message.

Students of the community’s Greek School chanted the Three Hierarchs’ hymn under the direction of teacher Sophia Schoursidou. Students also recited passages form Homer’s Odyssey, and from poems by Greek Nobel laureates George Seferis and Odysseas Elytis. Students also performed theatrical scenes about the struggles of student life, under the direction of teacher-honoree Mansini.

Mr. Bouroutis, the communty’s newly-elected parish council president, congratulated the students and teachers for the "excellent program," commending those who, despite not being of Greek heritage, "played their parts beautifully."

Mr. Bouroutis was sworn-in along with the other members of the newly-elected council soon after last Sunday’s Divine Liturgy, which was presided over by His Grace Bishop Savas of Troas, chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

At the Greek Letters Day celebration, Mr. Bouroutis also invited community parents to entrust their children to the Three Hierarchs School, stating that "there are two things we should never regret: bringing our children to a Greek School and crossing ourselves."

Mrs. Mansini and Mrs. Kokoros were then presented with honorary plaques by Archbishop Demetrios, Parish Pastor Very Rev. Eugene Pappas and Mr. Bouroutis. Mrs. Mansini, who has been teaching at the community’s Afternoon School for 40 years, expressed her gratitude for the honor, saying that throughout her career, she has tried to inspire her students with a love for Greece.

The Constantinople-born Mrs. Mansini emphasized the importance of the teaching of Greek language in turning students into "ideal Greeks, in soul and spirit… I never considered teaching a profession," she said. "To me, it is an ierourgema (sacred mission)."

Mrs. Kokoros, who has taught at the Three Hierarchs School for 39 years, thanked the parents and students, as well as all the members of the community for "the love with which you have surrounded me."

Mrs. Kokoros graduated from St. Basil’s Academy in 1965 and started teaching at the community’s Afternoon School before transferring to the Day School 23 years ago. "This is a great honor," she said. "But we are even more honored by the fact that you have entrusted the teaching of your children to us," she said, clearly moved.
The Onassis Foundation was also honored.

During his remarks, the Very Rev. Pappas referred to the Foundation’s "promotion of Hellenic culture to a wide American audience," presenting a plaque to Ambassador Tsilas who, upon accepting the plaque, said "it is an honor for us and gives us the courage to continue our mission," adding that Hellenic civilization has diachronic and universal value.

Ambassador Sotirhos, a former Brooklyn resident who lit a candle at Three Hierarchs Church every Sunday before heading to the Annunciation Church in Manhattan, congratulated the Three Hierarchs community for its work and the achievements of its schools.

The Archbishop congratulated the teachers and students for their efforts, noting that the evening’s performances by non-Greek students were done in flawless Greek.

"In our schools, we have made progress that schools in Greece have not made," the Archbishop said.



Volume 7 Number 6 - Tuesday, February 8th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY