HCHC Wins $7.5 Million Lilly Endowment Grant to Revamp Priestly Formation
Grant will fund redesigned Master of Divinity program with extensive parish-based training.
BROOKLINE, MA — Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC) announced on Friday that its School of Theology has received a $7,466,083 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to overhaul its Master of Divinity program and priestly formation, expanding practical pastoral training in real parish environments. It is the largest grant the institution has received in recent history.
The five-year project, titled “Koinonia: Priestly Formation in Communion,” is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Large-Scale Collaboration Initiative. Holy Cross was one of 45 institutions selected in this competitive round, which supports theological schools, colleges, universities, and church-related organizations.
In the past several months, multiple Orthodox seminaries have been awarded grant funding by the Lilly Endowment. St. Tikhon's Seminary has received a $920,107 grant, St. Sophia Seminary has been awarded $1 million, and Holy Cross received a separate grant of $1 million. St. Vladimir's Seminary also received grants in 2022 and 2023.
The most recent HCHC proposal was led by the Rev. Eugen J. Pentiuc, PhD, Dean of the School of Theology and Archbishop Demetrios Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Origins. Fr. Eugen, who has secured two previous Lilly Endowment grants for Holy Cross, will oversee the initiative’s implementation.
“This grant represents a transformative opportunity for the parishes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the clergy who serve them today — and for generations to come,” said HCHC President Dr. Demetrios Katos. He thanked Fr. Eugen, hierarchs, clergy, and supporters, as well as Abp. Elpidophoros for his encouragement throughout the process.
His Eminence praised the initiative as vital for the “renewal of priestly formation through intensive parish immersion,” expressing deep gratitude to Lilly Endowment and to Fr. Eugen for his leadership. The effort, he said, will shape priests who are “spiritually mature, pastorally skilled, and ready to shepherd Christ’s flock.”
A central feature of Koinonia is a full-time, one-semester parish internship supported by collaborating parishes and metropolises, providing seminarians with targeted opportunities to develop pastoral, catechetical, leadership, and spiritual formation skills.
Lilly Endowment launched the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative in 2021 and has since awarded more than $700 million to 163 theological schools, including 61 institutions engaged in large-scale collaborative projects.
Previously, UOJ reported that the HCHC community held an all-night vigil honoring the Philoptochos Society and its patron saints.
