Presbytera Merilynn Andruchow kicks off this public web series with a lecture and discussion on Spiritual Warfare and her life as a student at Hellenic College. Prevytera Merilynn Andruchow is a graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary. She received a Master of Arts Degree with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. She has been married for over 25 years and has 3 children. She is an OCMC Missionary at Project Mexico/Saint Innocent Orphanage guiding and supporting Summer Interns with their relationship & journey towards our Lord. The FOrCE (Forming Orthodox Christian Evangelists) webinar series, offers a comprehensive understanding of the many opportunities available in pursuing vocations in the Church and higher education through the esteemed HCHC graduates, seminarians, and priests. Through this public webinar series, participants will continue their spiritual growth, deepen their faith and gain extensive knowledge of what it means to be true missionaries.

Faeli Kathryn Heise is currently enrolled at Hellenic College Holy Cross, pursuing a BA in Literature & History and a minor in Childhood Education. Before this, she spent two years at St. Innocent Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico while simultaneously enrolled in an associate’s degree program. She is a graduate and previous intern of St. Raphael School under Rev. Dr. Porphyrios (James) Taylor, of blessed memory. TOPIC: The “Pursuit of Virtue” on the nature and value of Orthodox education.

Spiritual Growth through the Planned and the Unplanned with Paul Murray. Paul Murray grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and holds a BA in psychology from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. He is a 2021 graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and currently serves as the Administrator of St. Herman of Alaska Christian School in Allston, MA.

Dean Timothy Patitsas earned his doctorate in systematic theology from The Catholic University of America in 2003 and has been Assistant Professor of Orthodox Christian Ethics at Holy Cross School of Theology since 2005. Timothy G. Patitsas is the Interim Dean of Hellenic College and the Assistant Professor of Ethics at Holy Cross. From 2006 until 2021, he has held the main responsibility for the St. Helen’s Pilgrimage, which is the annual study abroad program for MDiv seniors in Greece, Constantinople, Mount Athos, Israel, and Palestine.

Fr. Luke A. Veronis is the director of the Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity and has been teaching as an instructor at Hellenic College Holy Cross since 2005. For the past 18 years he has overseen a renewal at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Webster, MA. He has been involved in the Orthodox Church’s missionary movement since 1987, serving as a missionary priest in post-communist Albania for ten and a half years with his wife and children as well as serving in East Africa for eighteen months. He has led nine short-term mission teams to Project Mexico building homes for the needy in Tijuana. He has published four books related to missions, witness and outreach. TOPIC: Listen to God’s voice and follow your calling to be a priest, a monk, a mother, a father, a teacher, a banker… and always a faithful Christian.

Father Christopher Flesoras is the pastor of Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church in Roseville, a parish of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. He is a graduate of Hellenic College (BA), Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (MDiv), Northeastern University (MS), the University of California, Davis (Ph.D.), and Air University (Master of Military Operational Art and Science). TOPIC: The challenges and benefits of priestly endeavors in America.

Lidya Abraham grew up singing her whole life starting in her home parish. This early exposure to music shaped her journey into the faith and current vocational pursuits. Lidya is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Music Education at Boston University. After graduation she hopes to teach the joy that can be found in music and its importance in praising God.

Gabriel Fahling lived at Project Mexico for almost two years, doing everything from building homes to serving as a chauffeur to arranging accommodations for guests. In August of last year, Gabriel moved from Mexico to Hellenic College to do a Semester of Faith, which was a blessed experience. Gabriel is currently a student at Hellenic College, majoring in Psychology and Human Development in hopes of going into Clinical Psychology.

Ivy Gabriella Tesfay has a love for serving and loving the Lord, which drove her to serve as an intern at Project Mexico for two summers! From there, she obtained a Bachelor in Psychology from Hellenic College in ‘22 while also receiving a Certificate in Youth and Young Adult Ministry. She just completed her Masters in Theological Studies at Holy Cross and is now working as the Assistant Ministry Coordinator at Orthodox Christian Fellowship!

Presvytera Sarah joyfully serves the community of Annunciation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband, Father Savvas, and two children. Sarah was educated as an elementary school teacher and served in public schools for five years. Her summers were spent either in Orthodox summer camps or on mission trips to South Korea, Kenya, and Mexico. When she finally answered the Call she dropped her teaching profession to become a student again, this time at Holy Cross. From 2018-2021 Sarah earned her Masters of Divinity and married her beloved classmate. Pres. Sarah is honored to use her teaching skills to preach sermons, lead mom groups, and teach Greek School. Together, Presvytera and Father remain united in their love of iced coffee, their husky (Dunkin’), and their mission-minded parish of believers!

Fr. George Parsenios is Professor of New Testament at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he has also served as Dean of the Faculty. Prior to coming to Holy Cross, he was Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary for 20 years, and has taught as an adjunct Professor at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and in the St. Athanasius Theological College in the University of Melbourne (Australia). His teaching and research explore the interaction of early Christianity with classical literature. He is the author of three books and several articles, with a particular focus on the Gospel and Letters of John. His current scholarly work includes translating the catechetical homilies of St. John Chrysostom. His education includes an MDiv from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and a PhD from Yale University. As a priest of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, he serves at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Lexington, MA. He and Presvytera Maureen have three children, including a daughter Julia who has served Project Mexico in a variety of capacities.

Dr Ann Mitsakos Bezzerides is Director of the Office of Vocation Ministry at Holy Cross, where she teaches Youth Ministry and runs the Certificate in Youth & Young Adult Ministry and Leadership; she is also Executive Director of CrossRoad Institute, which offers transformative education for youth, young adults, parents and parishes. She is editor and contributor to two volumes of collected essays, Christ at Work: Orthodox Christian Perspectives of Vocation and Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Higher Education, as well as co-author with Dr Jenny Haddad Mosher of the new book, Find Your Telos: Discover What Orthodox Young Adults & Parishes Can Create Together. She is a graduate of Middlebury College (BA), St. Vladimir's Seminary (MDiv), and Boston College (PhD).

Fr. Demetrios grew up in the Pacific Northwest in a small Antiochian Church in the countryside. He attended school at Hellenic College and in 2014 received a degree in religious studies with hopes of continuing on to seminary in the future. He met his wife Sophia at Hellenic College. Taking a break from their schooling, Fr. Demetrios and Pres. Sophia moved to St. Innocent Orphanage and worked together as the work trip coordinator from 2014 to 2016. With many tears, they left the orphanage. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, they studied at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology as a seminarian. Fr. Demetrios graduated with his Masters of Divinity in 2019. After college, he served for three years as the Pastoral Assistant and chanter at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox in Wheeling, West Virginia, and in 2022 moved back to the orphanage with the invitation of Fr. Nicholas Andruchow. After many conversations about the best path forward, he was ordained a priest by His Eminence Metropolitan Ignacio of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Mexico in November of 2022 and continues to serve as "Resident Priest" at the orphanage.

Kyra Limberakis is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer for Orthodox Volunteer Corps. She previously served as Director of the CrossRoad Summer Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross. She received her bachelor's degree from Villanova University and her Master of Theological Studies from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, where she focused her studies on youth and young adult ministry and the ministry of women in the church. Kyra’s experience in Orthodox youth work spans 10+ years. In addition to working in full-time ministry, Kyra has published articles and given several talks on the topic of young women’s faith formation. Kyra, her husband and their son attend St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA.

In collaboration with our partners at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, an Orthodox Christian liberal arts college and seminary, the FOrCE educational series consists of six (6) 45-min ZOOM lectures purposefully designed to introduce the wealth of post-service opportunities in Orthodox education. This video series will help the faithful tangibly fulfill their Orthodox Faith, fortify their conviction, add to the welfare of the community, and directly benefit the churches in America by Forming Orthodox Christian Evangelists.

Anna Teodosiadis is from Seattle, WA, yet currently resides in San Diego, CA. She works for the Metropolis of San Francisco as the Youth and Young Adult Parish Ministry Advisor. Anna also is the Metropolis Hellenic College Holy Cross representative, as she spent 4 years studying Human Development and Religious Studies there, and now is currently doing her Master's of Theological Studies online at Holy Cross.