LAVAL – On Sunday, November 9, a profound sense of shared purpose and spiritual commitment filled the halls of the Palace Convention Centre as more than 600 faithful gathered for a luncheon supporting the Patriarchal Orthodox Theological Academy of Canada. The event, described on the ticket as a “Meal of Love and Solidarity”, was a testament to the community’s deep-rooted understanding that to preserve the Hellenic Orthodox faith in the diaspora, one must first invest in its future leaders.
The atmosphere was one of joyous reunion and solemn responsibility. Dignitaries, clergy, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, past and present presidents of the Hellenic Community of Montreal, and parishioners from across the region filled the hall. They came together not just for a meal, but to answer a call to action, reinforcing the spiritual, social, and cultural bonds that unite the Greek-Canadian community.
A ‘Spiritual Nursery’ for Canadian Hellenism
The luncheon’s focus, the Theological Academy, was repeatedly described as the spiritual lifeblood of the Archdiocese. Father Nikodemos Kontogeorgakis, who served as the event’s master of ceremonies, spoke with the unique authority of an alumnus. He detailed the Academy’s humble beginnings 27 years ago, starting in a single house. Today, he noted, it provides a rigorous four-year education, encompassing everything from Dogmatics and Patrology to Byzantine Music and Church Administration.
However, he stressed that the Academy’s purpose transcends academics. “The purpose of the Academy is not only to get a theology degree… in our hands,” Fr. Nikodemos explained. Its true goal is to nurture a divine calling, so that graduates may “teach, to preach the Risen Christ in the Greek-Canadian society”.
This sentiment was passionately echoed by Zoe Veroutis, President of the Archdiocesan Council of Philoptochos. “This Academy is a precious treasure for our Church in Canada,” Veroutis stated. “It is the spiritual nursery from which tomorrow’s shepherds, the guardians of our faith, will emerge”. She highlighted the Academy’s tangible success, noting that “more than 38 priests” currently serving parishes across Canada are its graduates. On behalf of the Philoptochos, she renewed their “sacred commitment to support… the Theological Academy with consistency and love”.
A United Front for a Common Challenge
The event also served as a platform for community leaders to affirm their solidarity with the Church, linking the fate of Hellenism directly to the health of the Academy.
Basile Angelopoulos, President of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, recognized the former community presidents in attendance, including Dr. George Tsoukas, Nick Pagonis, Kostas Milonopoulos, Andy Crilis and Giannis Amanatidis. He declared that collaboration between the community and the Archdiocese is a “priority”. “The challenges of the Church are the challenges of the community,” Angelopoulos affirmed, “just as the challenges of the community become challenges of the Church. Together, hand in hand, we will face them”. He also directly addressed the central issue: “there are… shortages of new priests”.
Nicholas Karalekas, the Consul General of Greece in Montreal, reinforced this message from a cultural perspective. He called the Academy a “point of reference for the Greek and Orthodox presence in Canada”. “Supporting such an institution,” Karalekas said, “is an investment in the future of our community here in Canada”.
This challenge was given a personal, pastoral voice by Rev. John Fortomas of the St. John the Baptist parish on the South Shore. When asked about the difficulty in attracting young men to the priesthood, he offered a sober reflection. “In every era, ministry in the church is a cross,” he stated in a brief interview. “And certainly, the young person who has been called to the priesthood has been called to take up a cross”.
The Archbishop’s $10 Million Dream
The luncheon’s keynote address was delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios of Canada, who spoke with the candor and passion of a father guiding his flock.
“I am 89 years old and 9 months old,” he stated plainly. “Therefore, I have eaten my bread”. With this perspective, he shared his two most profound dreams. The first, he said, is “absolute cooperation amongst ourselves”. He lamented the infighting that has historically plagued the Greek community. “I hate to say this,” he said, “but the problem of our race… is that we don’t work together. We fight one another”.
His second dream, he explained, is the “second thing that concerns me: our Theological Academy”. His Eminence unveiled a clear and ambitious goal before he “leave[s]” : “We should collect a minimum of 10 million dollars to put it as an endowment fund for our Theological School”. This fund, he explained, would “make it sure that our Theological Academy will be able to operate for good… forever and ever”.
Anticipating the question of where such a sum could be found, the Archbishop shared a personal story of the late Mr. Miskios, a man who, despite being difficult, was profoundly Greek. Mr. Miskios, he recounted, left the Archdiocese “in his will almost 10 million dollars”. The point was clear: “To achieve this you only need willpower. Otherwise, money exists”.
He reminded the audience of the Academy’s own history, which began “with almost nothing” in a house that “was not ours”. From that humble start, the Archdiocese grew from less than a dozen communities to 63 organized parishes, each with a priest.
His message was a powerful call to secure this legacy. “Without priests there is no church and there is no right society,” he declared. He pointed to the spiritual crises in Europe and around the world as evidence . “Remember,” he urged, “in Canada nothing will remain, nothing else is going to last forever except our Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox communities across Canada”.
He concluded his speech by thanking the event’s organizers, led by Father Nikodimos , the community presidents, the Philoptochos, and especially Archon Nick Tsatas, the owner of Palace Reception Halls, who, the Archbishop announced, had donated the entire event: the room and the food for over 500 people for free.
The event concluded with the Archbishop leading the room in prayer, his final words echoing the theme of the day: “We build the tower all together”.
