Fr. Cleopas Strongylis to receive Academy of Athens award for his latest book

V. Rev. Dr. Cleopas Strongylis will be honored by the Academy of Athens on Tuesday, March, 24, 2009 for his latest book Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis and the Rizareios Seminary (1894-1908). The ceremony will take place during the Academy of Athens’ annual awards gala, which will be held in the Academy’s Ceremony Hall (28 Panepistimou Street) in observation of the national holiday of March 25, 1821. At the event, Fr. Cleopas will receive the Panhellenic Sacred Institution of Evangelistria in Tinos Award for best theological book of the year.

This award-winning book is a product of the widest and most extensive systematic study of the Rizareios Seminary’s archives. Based entirely on never-before-published sources, which have been made public for the first time ever, the author Fr. Cleopas Strongylis, examines Saint Nectarios’ ministry as Director of the Rizareios Seminary, and provides insight on his ministry at Rizareios and outside of the seminary during this period.

The time in question was a very critical period in the life of the famed seminary. Saint Nectarios’ successor Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papadopoulos – who went on to become Archbishop of Athens – credits Saint Nectarios with helping the seminary “rediscover its internal tranquility” and helping advance its mission.

Through years of studying the Rizareios archive, the author pieces together Minutes of meetings, original correspondence, and other works produced by the holy figure of Saint Nectarios himself to give the reader a clear picture of the challenges facing Rizareios’ Director and his historic accomplishments.

The author’s meticulous study has produced many interesting discoveries linking Saint Nectarios and the Rizareios Seminary to some of the most important events taking place in Greek society at the turn of the twentieth century.

Besides gaining a better understanding of the pedagogical and management approaches employed by Saint Nectarios to restore the Rizareios Seminary to one of the most respected educational and religious institutions in the nation, readers are provided with in-depth information events linking Saint Nectarios to the first modern Olympic Games, the struggle to free Greek Macedonia right before the first Baklan War, and Greek Prime Minister Harilaos Trikoupis. The Metropolitan of Pentapolis’ candidacy as Patriarch of Alexandria and Bishop of Halkida is also examined, as are his relations with leading figures of the Church during that era. Much light is also shed on his lengthy literary work, in addition to his impetus and actions for the establishment of the Holy Trinity Convent in Aegina – where he spent the final years of his life, and where his holy relics are housed today.

This book was published in 2008 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Saint Nectarios’ retirement as Director of the Rizareios Seminary The work was published by the Rizareios Foundation, following the generous donation of the finished product by the author Fr. Cleopas – a Rizareios graduate himself - who has spent his entire career researching the life and ministry of Saint Nectarios.

Archimandrite Cleopas Strongylis is Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral in Boston, MA, and also serves as Director of Greek Education for the Metropolis of Boston. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. His lengthy list of publications also includes the works, Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis and the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis and Aegina, The Community of Transfiguration of Christ, in the Suburb of Corona, NY: 1926-2003, Archbishop Iakovos of N. & S. America and the Holy Trinity Community of Lowell, Mass., etc.

His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios has announced the appointment of the Very Rev. Dr. Cleopas Strongylis as Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral of Boston.

Fr. Cleopas was born in Athens, Greece on August 20,1966. Following his primary and secondary education, he enrolled and subsequently graduated from the School of Theology of the University of Athens. Thereafter he studied at the University of Durham, England where he earned a Master of Arts degree in 1992. Coming to America he studied at and later graduated from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology earning the Master of Theology degree. After taking courses at Boston University and Harvard Divinity School, Fr. Cleopas earned a Doctorate degree from the University of Thessaloniki in 1994. He is the author of several books including his latest, “Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis and the Rizareios Seminary of Athens (1984-1908), published in 2008. The tome was presented late last year at a special ceremony in Athens attended by the author and more than 400 clergy and laity, including His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos and professors from various universities and colleges.

Father Strongylis, who is the Director of Greek Education of the Metropolis of Boston, has been serving the Holy Trinity Parish in Lowell, MA since August 2004. Metropolitan Methodios is confident that Fr. Cleopas will minister the Cathedral Community with zeal and enthusiasm. He gave Fr. Cleopas a clear mandate to embrace the entire parish, especially its young adults and married couples, and reach out to the plethora of Greek Orthodox residing in the Greater Boston area.

Metropolitan Methodios will install Fr. Strongylis at the Annunciation Cathedral on Sunday, March 1.