Diego Ribadeneira

By Diego Ribadeneira, Globe Staff

BROOKLINE - The new president of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology yesterday canceled a news conference planned to discuss the upheaval caused by the recent firings of the former president and three professors, saying he needed time to "assess the current administrative, academic, and spiritual situation before any announcements are made."

But a spokesman for Archbishop Spyridon, national leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, yesterday reiterated that the firings had nothing to do with the alleged sexual misconduct of a Greek Orthodox priest.

On Thursday, the Globe reported that President Alkiviadis Calivas, the Rev. Emmanuel Clapsis, the Rev. Theodore Stylianopoulos, and the Rev. George Papademetriou had been dismissed for what sources said was their refusal to cover up the alleged sexual misconduct.

The three professors had been part of a disciplinary committee that recommended expelling the accused priest, a student who graduated in May and moved to Greece.He was accused by a fellow student of making unsolicited sexual advances during a party at the school.