November 29, 2000

Response of Peter James Liacouras, Chancellor of Temple University, to the "Award of Excellence" from the Cathedral of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, Philadelphia

This is a homecoming of sorts for me. It is an opportunity to thank the Saint George Community and the Philadelphia Greek-American Community into which I had the good luck to be born seven decades ago -- to express my thanks for their nurturing, support and agaph.

The modest contributions I may have made pale in comparison with the benefits I received as a youngster, and the benefits thousands of others derived from their association with Saint George during the Cathedral's 78 years of service.

Even today, I carry memories of my childhood at Saint George in the 1940's, of the ambitious, hard-working, honest and proud Greek-American community in Philadelphia -- persons determined to maintain and expand their Hellenic culture while improving opportunities for their children.

***

As a child, our Sunday mornings at Saint George began with an awesome assembly led by our Principal Theresa Cletcos. We then divided into age-based classes conducted by the likes of Georgia Alexiou (Generalis), Elizabeth Gounis, and my favorite, Gus Sosangelis. An hour later, we would march into the sanctuary where the benevolent Pater Papantwniou, the corwdia, and wondrous incense prepared us for the willing remission of our sins -- while hoping against hope that the service would finish quickly enough for us to play with our friends before returning home.

As the years pass, we rarely recall specifics. But the quiet repetition of our lessons raised ethical choices, sacrifices, and expressed God's love of humanity. They remain an integral part of my soul.

I was lucky as a boy and later in life to be blessed with incredibly loving, unconditionally supportive parents and sisters. They were always a source of inspiration and strength, and I continue to marvel at my parents' sacrifices and my sisters' accomplishments.

I have often re-visited my early-life experiences outside our immediate home and Church...always, with agaph and appreciation.

Experiences such as:

• My twice weekly, after school trolley rides with my best friend Athans Magos to "Greek School" led by Pater Papantwniou and Kuria Terizakis;
  
• Coroesperides on Saturday nights;
  
• After church visits on Sunday afternoons at Giagia and Papou's and later at Uncle Tom and Aunt Pauline Manos' homes, where my parents, sisters and I joined our grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, koumparoi, other relatives, and friends; happily, Aunt Minerva, Aunt Cathy, Aunt Lola are here tonight as are cousins, nephews and nieces led by my hero, John Manos;
  
• During those after-church Sundays, we devoured not only Greek food but Greek culture and music led by Uncle Bill and Uncle Greg Lagakos; we sang, were treated to story-telling about the old country, and grasped time-honed enqumia - always with agaph;
  
• "Nameday" celebrations at the homes of family friends.

Those experiences have never left me. They inspired and helped shape my view of life, and my ethical compass.

Eventually, they combined to develop in me an appreciation for the lives, experiences, struggles, hopes and contributions of others -- that is, of the non-Greeks and of others less fortunate than I.

***

Saint George's and related early-life experiences were often wrapped in the Greek language and rhetoric about the uniqueness of Greeks, the Greek language, the Greek experience, the Greek Orthodox religion. But it was the profound substance of those experiences, not the rhetoric, that helped form a simple belief that remains my guiding principle:

Everyone is a child of God, inherently no better or worse than anyone else; and each person should be treated on his or her individual merits.

***

As I grew older and passed through diverse experiences both good and bad, as I read and thought more and began personally to experience the history, culture and lives of others -- of the non-Greek-Americans -- I became emboldened.

I began to realize that my own life, which at first seemed different, was actually quite similar to the lives of others, rich and poor -- ranging from their everyday experiences to historical events:

To illustrate:

• My own Greek School experiences were like my Jewish friends' experiences with Hebrew School; indeed, we were often riding on the same trolley car going to our respective schools, and wondering the same thoughts: "why me, when our other friends were out playing ball?";
  
• My Church experiences were like my African-American friends' except they would spend all day Sunday in Church while we spent afternoons at relatives' homes; all of us were learning about our roots;
  
• So, too, historical claims of Greeks were like those of other nations, albeit at different points of success or failure in their respective histories; and so on.

***

By focusing on substance, I began to understand that every group feels passionately about its own uniqueness, about the righteousness of its claims, its own version of history.

Each considers its own language, religion, food, ethnic and cultural contributions -- and sacrifices -- to be unique and of ultimate importance for humankind.

Likewise, I observed how each group was wary of historic "enemies," of some other group's supposedly unwavering and fanatical support for everyone else within that group, and even of "conspiracies" from "enemy" groups towards "us."

I concluded that there is good and bad in every group, and in everyone.

Gradually, I began to focus on similarities rather than differences. I began to appreciate the vast, positive and critical similarities among all persons and groups -- similarities in their histories, their hopes and expectations about the future, and their love of life.

This recognition and resolve were reinforced in later years by the moral strength, agaph, and wisdom of my wife, Ann and her family, and by our children, and now our grandchildren.

***

So, by focusing on the individual rather than on one's group identity, I cleared a more direct path towards justice and human dignity. 

Such a mind-set is, however, neither easy nor popular. As you know, the extreme "nationalists" or "purists" within each group emphasize the "righteousness" of their own viewpoint, the incompatibility of their own group's interests with the interests of other groups, and often attribute mischief or bad intentions to the others.

Undaunted, I zero in on the individual, and one's individual merit...what each person has earned. I look upon a group's identity and history as explanations rather than determiners of the rightful rewards and sanctions earned by each individual.

***

In this resolve, my early Saint George's lessons and experiences helped shape and embolden my values.

It was Saint George's that helped me understand God's agaph, the universality of the human condition and human potential, the uniqueness of the individual, the responsibility each of us must bear for our thoughts and actions.

It was also Saint George's that reinforced my parents' injunction to treat others as you would have them treat you, while pursuing pan, metron, ariston.

Now, sixty years later, Saint George's continues to inspire me, to open our minds and arms to all of God's children in every policy we shape and every decision we make.

***

And so, for all these many blessings and with agaph, I humbly accept this award.

Thank you, Saint George. Eucaristw.

Pater Katerlis: na ta Ekatostisome.

Na zhsoun ta paidia mas.