Students and clergy from the Metropolis of San Francisco (L-R): Jason Schrik, John Smyrni, Father Christopher Flesoras (Saint Anna Church – Roseville, CA), Father Jon Magoulias (Annunciation Church – Modesto, CA), Father Marin State (Saint Demetrios Church – Concord, CA), Mihai State, Samuel Johnson, Nicole Smyrni. (Not pictured: Paul and Lavinia Truebenbach)
Seven students from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco were part of the 2010 graduating class at Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. On Saturday, May 15, 2010 a total of 48 students earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at a ceremony presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and Rev. Father Nicholas Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College/Holy Cross.
The seven students from the Metropolis of San Francisco that graduated were: Jason Schrik, Mihai State and Paul Truebenbach, all of whom received Master of Divinity degrees; Lavinia Truebenbach who received a Master of Theological Studies; Samuel Johnson and John Smyrni who received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Religious Studies; and Nicole Smyrni who received a Bachelor of Arts in Classics.
His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos stated, “I am proud of the accomplishments of all our students, and the commitment they have made to further their studies at the only Greek Orthodox institution in America for higher education. These students have already demonstrated their desire to serve the Church in a variety of capacities, including the Holy Priesthood, and I hope that many others will follow their examples of faith, courage and strength.”
It was a special day for the Smyrni family, as father and daughter sat next to each other on the platform waiting to receive their degrees. John will continue his studies at Holy Cross, and Nicole plans to return to California and intern at a museum or gallery, with the ultimate goal of attending Sotheby’s Art Institute in London to obtain a degree in Art Business.
Jason Schrik spent four years at Holy Cross, and says his experience “was an incredible challenge and a tremendous blessing”. Mihai State, who previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from UCLA states, “I will always be grateful for the faculty and fellow students of Holy Cross, and the faithful examples they set as priests, theologians and friends”. Paul and Lavinia Truebenbach are one of several married couples who lived on campus, and plan to study in Greece for the next six to nine months. Samuel Johnson will enroll in the Master of Divinity program in the fall, and looks forward to continuing his educational and spiritual journey at Holy Cross.
In addition to tuition support provided by Leadership 100, the students from the Metropolis of San Francisco also received substantial assistance through the Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos Bishop Anthony Philoptochos Seminarian/Student Aid Endowment Fund which provides scholarships for students attending Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology.
4th Thursday after Pascha
