National President Aphrodite Skeadas Addresses The 2009 Saint Basil Academy Graduation
St. Basil Academy Graduation
June 20, 2009
Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
Reverend Father Costa Sitaras
Reverend Clergy
The Honorable Consul General of Greece, Mrs. Aglaia Balta
The Honorable Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Andreas Panayiotou
Mrs. Evellyn Tsiadis, President of the Board of Trustees
Members of the Board
Graduates of 2009
Respected National Philoptochos Board Members
Beloved Family and Children of St. Basil Academy
St. Basil Academy is the warm and inviting home offering true family values, spiritual nurturing and emotional support for you, our special children. It is here you are offered instruction and assistance, recreation and study, love and prayer, all in the spectacular natural beauty of the Hudson River Valley. It is here you are respectfully served and it is here you learn to be of service. It is here you are taught not to expect opportunity, but to create opportunity.
St. Basil Academy is directed by the very capable, careful, caring and appropriate Reverend Father Costa Sitaras and under the dedicated and committed Chairmanship of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America. Education and practice in our Greek Orthodox faith is made complete at the Academy with the support from President Evellyn Tsiadis, the Board of Trustees and the most productive staff.
I was very fortunate just two weeks ago to visit the home town of Saint Basil the Great in a very remote part of the world, in central Turkey. I am certain you would be amazed to see the lunar-like landscape of Cappadocia, Caesaria, Turkey where St. Basil lived and studied during the 4th Century. Today, if you would visit these parts you might really believe you were on the Moon, because geological erosion has transformed the area into bizarre towering cones and gigantic stone mushrooms. You would see inspiring churches and modest homes built into caves and entire cities built underground - all this because the people wanted to pray and live free of religious persecution. Just imagine your Saint Basil's Academy, except a hundred times bigger, built under the earth and imagine studying, writing manuscripts, establishing a cherished community, organizing a soup kitchen, distributing food to the poor, building the first hospital. This is Saint Basil, the giver, the thinker, the doer. Your Saint Basil Academy is named in honor of this great and holy man.
The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society is very proud of your important achievements and significant accomplishments. The women of Philoptochos believe in you and will remain your friend and advocate. We join His Eminence, Father Costa, President Evelyn, the Board of Trustees and the dedicated staff of St. Basil Academy in congratulating the graduates of 2009 and all the students advancing forward in their educational programs. With prayer, with agape and with hard work, we are all certain you will succeed in your further education and in your future endeavors. We applaud you as you celebrate this momentous milestone in your lives.
Congratulations to Master Sammy Pappas as you complete Kindergarten and commence with Primary School.
Congratulations to Mr. Zisis Koumboulis as you complete Middle School and commence Haldane High School in Cold Spring.
Congratulations to our graduate of Dutchess County Community College, Mr. Spiridon Mitches, as you commence your Bachelor's program at Baruch College.
Congratulations to our graduate of Boston College, Mr. Joseph Al-Shanniek, as you commence in September a Master's program at Boston College.
I am certain of your success, as you are proven.
God bless you and your next steps forward.
On behalf the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, I present these gifts in your honor.
In addition to the National Philoptochos, The Church of Our Saviour Philoptochos Of Rye, New York, my home parish, offers these gifts to our graduates.
On behalf of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, I present 2 checks to Father Costa Sitaras for the Academy of St. Basil