HCHC Community Holds All-Night Vigil Honoring Philoptochos Society and Its Patron Saints

BROOKLINE — Late on Friday evening, Oct. 31, 2025, the Hellenic College Holy Cross (HCHC) community held an all-night vigil for the feast of Ss. Kosmas and Damianos, the patron saints of the Philoptochos Society. During Great Vespers, a special Artoklasia service was celebrated, commemorating all members of the National Board of Philoptochos and the Society’s faithful members across the country.

As shared by HCHC, Artoklasia was offered in thanksgiving for the Philoptochos Society’s enduring generosity and steadfast support of the school and seminary. Following the service, HCHC chaplain Archimandrite Bartholomew Mercado expressed gratitude, calling the thousands of women of the Society “silent heroes who consistently and selflessly labor to help those in need.”

"As His Eminence Abp. Elpidophoros of America mentioned in his encyclical, they have dedicated themselves to seeing everyone as our Lord — something we should all emulate," Fr. Bartholomew said. "As a student I was a beneficiary of their love and commitment to our Theological School which has continued through the present."

The vigil concluded in the early morning hours, after which students gathered at the Maliotis Cultural Center for a post-vigil meal and fellowship.

Previously, UOJ reported that Holy Cross Orthodox Press announced the publication of a new translation of a book written by St. Dumitru Stăniloae, titled, "Spirituality and Communion in the Orthodox Liturgy."