Ambassador Savvaides Honored At Holy Cross

Published by The National Herald, May 30, 2005

BOSTON – Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology honored Greek Ambassador to the United States George Savvaides with an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities at HC/HC’s 63rd annual commencement exercises last Saturday, May 21.

"Diplomacy lies at the heart of human activity. Since the founding of the Delian League in 478 BC, the city of Athens has been a hub of diplomatic activity. From offering leadership to the cities around the Aegean Sea to its modern role as holder of the European Presidency, Greece has played a central role in the peace and prosperity of southern Europe," HC/HC President Rev. Nicholas Triantafillou stated in presenting the citation for the Honorary Degree to the Ambassador, who served at the Greek Consulate in Boston 30 years earlier.

"Yet diplomacy is as successful as the individuals who carry out the oftentimes tedious, behind-the-scenes preparations and details, as well as the face-to-face deliberations which allow governments to conduct business among themselves," Rev. Triantafillou said.

"The career of Ambassador George Savvaides stands among the long list of Greek diplomats who have shaped the geopolitical relationships between Greece and her neighbours, both near and far, throughout the storied history of 2,500 years of Athenian diplomatic history," he added.

Ambassador Savvaides who was also keynote speaker at the graduation ceremonies, spoke to a large crowd of Greek Americans in the School’s Pappas Auditorium, where 21 graduated from Hellenic College and 48 from the School of Theology.

"I wish to thank Father Triantafillou for his most gracious introduction and welcome. I listened to his words in all humility. I feel so honored to be among you today, to receive a Doctorate of Humanities Degree from Hellenic College and Holy Cross, on the magnificent grounds of this School, and in such familiar surroundings; in fact, I always recall similarly beautiful commencement exercises in this same place which I attended, not as an honoree, but in my capacity as Greek Consul in Boston. Some 30 years have passed since then.

"The Boston area is a proud host to several excellent institutions of higher learning. The twin institutions of the Hellenic College and of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, however, remain of unique character, and serve as a means and vehicle of academic knowledge, but also the best quality of tradition that Orthodox Christianity and Hellenic ideals have offered to mankind.

"On a personal note, and paraphrasing what President John F. Kennedy said at the Yale University commencement in 1962, I would say that today's honor to my person offers me the best of both worlds; namely, the Harvard education of my past, and the doctoral degree of my present.

"This combination means a lot to me. In my 33-year career, I had the good fortune to face challenging situations, make strong and lasting friendships, respectfully agree or disagree with different views and mentalities and, of course, submit ideas and proposals and suggest policies and methodologies in order to protect and promote my country’s national interests. I will leave it to others, of course, to consider whether such an attitude vis-à-vis personal or especially professional priorities was the right one, or even the most conducive for a satisfactory result.

"We diplomats quite often utilize a specialized, if not ambiguous, language. We often say ‘yes’ when we really mean ‘eventually.’ We say ‘maybe’ while implying ‘no.’ For understandable reasons, we usually avoid flat no’s and outright rejections, as such rigidity precludes negotiation. Nothing in life is black and white. Diplomacy requires diplomats to recognise and operate within the ubiquitous and ever-present grey areas. This, however, is only one aspect of the exercise: that of expressing thoughts and views that demand careful and thorough preparation and treatment.

"The question which immediately arises in this context is the existence and the role of basic elements and principles which must guide the formulation of our views and to what degree such notions influence the final outcome; that is, the promotion of our respective countries’ national interests through not only peaceful, but also morally acceptable, means.

I do not want to sound romantic or naïvely idealistic. By using the expression, "morally acceptable means," I am not implying any metaphysical or eternal justice, but rather international perceptions which render the exercise of diplomacy useful, understandable, durable and, above all, convincing to those who feel the effects of its presence and implementation. In order to achieve all or part of this, diplomacy depends upon the maximum support of peoples and societies.

"Diplomacy in the controlled conditions of a laboratory is an unthinkable and futile experiment. Diplomacy as an art certainly necessitates an aesthetic approach, but as a practical exercise in aiming at extremely valuable objectives – such as international peace, freedom, democracy, stability and social justice – it certainly needs leaders; and in seeking them, it can be selective, but not eclectic. It can necessitate difficult choices, but should avoid costly exclusions. It has to take advantage of all existing forces of positive influence in human societies, to make the best use of them for the common good, and to align in a harmonious and productive way the cultural, religious and other socio-political and socio-economic characteristics of particular countries, peoples, societies or human groupings.

"My dear Graduates of Hellenic College and Holy Cross, I am among you today not to lecture you about what the role of diplomacy is in contemporary times, but to make an attempt to establish a link between what I would call social diplomacy – or diplomacy of the people and for the people – and you as future servants and leaders of the Greek American Orthodox Community, as well as of other Communities.

"A proud Greek American community has origins, roots, historic background, contributions to world civilization, science, art and knowledge in general, and attachment to humanistic values such as respect of political, human and minority rights and freedoms. In short, it is a community which, thanks to its assets and determination, has shaped, and will continue to shape, the present and future of American society and reality.

"In a few years time, you will be invited to play a vital role in the affairs of your communities, either as laymen or as members of the Orthodox clergy. Both of these roles are important, and you must remain fully cognizant of their unifying elements, such as the Greek language, in which the vast majority of the holy books of our Church, our values, customs and traditions are written. I strongly believe that the future of the Orthodox Church in America is not to be found in an assimilation or isolation process. Both would be destructive for it, considering its unique assets, advantages and characteristics.

"And if such courses or processes are excluded, what would be the answer to such agonising questions? My opinion is that a process of balanced integration with the Hellenic and Eastern Orthodox Christian markers intact, which I consider as real assets and not as liabilities of Orthodoxy in America, can provide the right answer.

"If this is an assumption that most of us share, you first, as tomorrow’s leaders of the Greek American Community and its Orthodox Church in America, must be the guides and forerunners. In assuming such a role, you will rely not only on the exceptional academic standards and qualifications which these two historic institutions of American Hellenism graciously and liberally provided to you, but you will soon sense a broader mission-oriented calling: that of a leader with a solid and deep-rooted feeling of origin, self-confidence and inspiration of both religious and cultural nature.

"Let me try to conclude by saying a few things about the role of Greece, the country of origin of most of you, in all this exercise.

"For many years, Greek governments have recognized this seminary as the only institution of higher learning outside Greece, and its titles as bearing equal validity with those conferred by the two theological schools of the Universities of Athens and Thessaloniki. In the future, I hope that the same regiment will apply to the Halki Theological School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, if and when the Turkish Authorities permit its reopening.

"Such a policy seeks to achieve a twofold aim: first, to recognize the quality of the educational standards of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and second, to support, through qualitative criteria, the future of Greek Orthodoxy in America, which we consider the most important unifying factor and element of the Greek American Community – a permanent source of interest and pride for all of us.

"In so doing, we are not making gifts to a Church and a community which are so dynamic and strong that, in fact, they do not really need them. In essence, we are supporting the cultivation of civic and religious leaders mindful of their ethnic origin; proud of their cultural and religious background; and determined to support, with all their strengths and capabilities, the future of American Hellenism in all its incarnations, facets and expressions.

"In this respect, let me remind everyone that gone are the times when Greece was compared to the weak trunk of a tree which possesses, however, strong branches – in other words, Hellenes living abroad. The truth nowadays is that the trunk, the proud mother, has become decisively strong, and the branches, as the daughters, have grown up and matured. All this points to the fact that there is now an equilibrium among the parents and the members of the family which is based less on economic factors and much more on sentimental, cultural, linguistic and, of course, religious ones.

"There is an inherent interest of all members of the family, including, of course, the parents, in keeping this equilibrium healthy, dynamic, forward-looking, and really supportive of the fundamental components of the family ties. For this, we rely in the first place, on all those who really appreciate the values of traditions and continuity within unique institutions like the Orthodox Church as the leader and guiding force of the Greek American Community.

"My dear Graduates, as you prepare to leave this academic environment, do it proudly and with a stable step, setting concrete but feasible objectives for yourselves, and always excel in support of your moral, ethical and mission beliefs. The blessing of our Church and the caring eye of your families, your community, and of your country of origin will follow and support your noble endeavors."

During the ceremony, it was said the graduating class of 2005 was the largest in the history of Holy Cross. The commencement exercises were dedicated to the memory of the late Archbishop Iakovos, formerly of North & South America, who died this past April 10.

Hellenic College Valedictorian was Nicholas Chatzopoulos. Stavros Chatzis was the Holy Cross valedictorian, National Philoptochos Society President Georgia Skeadas presented to a $40,000 scholarship donation to the school.

Archbishop Demetrios of America offered his paternal wishes to the graduates, basing his remarks on a passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke:

"Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day, He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. And He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind; to release the oppressed; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him, and He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips (Luke 4.16-22). "

The passage does not simply provide a directive for preaching to others, the Archbishop said. It also provides hope that God is active in people’s lives, and that He can intervene to set them free from all forms of anxiety and distress.

"This Biblical passage is not a manifesto for social action. It is a manifesto for the elimination of what is oppressing and disorienting, of what destroys and keeps human beings captive," the Archbishop said.



Volume 7 Number 22 - Tuesday, May 31st, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY