OurHistory - Annunciation/Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church. Elkins Park, PA, USA.

Origins

Greek immigrants from various parts of the Eastern Mediterranean region started settling in the Philadelphia area in the late 1870s. As they grew into a community, they established the Greek Orthodox Community of Philadelphia in 1901, in order to provide for divine worship, and for the continuation of the Orthodox Faith and Hellenic culture. Evangelismos is the sixth oldest Greek Orthodox Church in the United States: New Orleans was established in 1866; New York City founded in 1892 and 1893; Chicago established in 1892; and Lowell in 1894. On February 22, 1907, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted the community a Charter of Incorporation. Having raised sufficient funds, on November 13, 1908, All Saints Episcopal Church at 745 South 12^th Street was purchased, converted into an Orthodox Holy Temple, and dedicated to Evangelismos – Annunciation. Many parishioners remember their young years at what they affectionately call “the Old Evangelismos”, a safe harbor for the Greek Orthodox immigrants and their offsprings for over sixty years.

The driving force behind the community in those early years was the Stephano brothers, Greek immigrants from Alexandria, Egypt. They envisioned the creation of a Greek Orthodox community and they instituted a tithing system for the Greek immigrants who worked for them at their tobacco business. Along with Constantine Stephano, other early pioneers were John Farmakis, John Litras, Demetrios Asemopoulos, Sarantos Zavakos, John Nestopoulos, Thomas Pappas, Vasilios Athanasiou, John Strountsos, Fotios Politos, Athanasios Damianos and a host of others. Their names are inscribed on the original Charter, issued in Harrisburg in 1907, and posted in the parish office for all to see. Many of their descendants are still with us.

Relocation

After sixty some years, in order to accommodate the suburbanization of the parishioners, the parish relocated to 504 Elkins Avenue in Elkins Park in 1963, a few blocks from the present location. Other parishioners who had moved west of the city, banded together and created Saint Demetrios parish in Upper Darby. On June 8, 1968, construction of the Hellenic Cultural Center began on this present site, formerly the Whitaker estate. The Cultural Center was dedicated in 1969, and the Holy Temple opened for worship on November 19, 1972, with Archbishop Iakovos presiding at the Thyranoixia (the “door opening” ceremony). That day, George and Lopi Pavlis came forth to become Godparents of the Holy Temple, and were given the honor by the Archbishop to turn the key and ceremoniously open the door.

Design and Construction

While the building program began with the construction of our cultural center and the office facilities, it required another four years until the project was finally completed with the construction of our Holy Temple. The new Byzantine style religious cultural complex includes a fellowship hall, a dozen classrooms, a library, two parish offices and a magnificent Holy Temple, “second to none in America” in the words of Archbishop Iakovos who presided at the door-opening ceremony on November 19, 1972. Demetrios Siderakis of New York designed the entire complex, assisted locally by architect Alfred Olexy of North Wales, while a local firm by the name of Luckens Construction Company of North Wales erected it. One of our own parishioners, a patent lawyer/engineer, Themis C. Pailas, supervised every phase of the construction personally from the very beginning to the end. His was a major contribution of time and talent.

The religious artifacts of the Holy Temple were designed by Nicholas Ikaris of New York City, the major iconography by George Filippakis of New York City, and George Gleatas from Athens. The marble Altar, Baptistery and inside and outside columns were brought form Greece.

Stewardship

In 1985 the parish decided to terminate the old system of membership support, then knows as the dues system, known today simply as Christian Stewardship. Stewardship is based on the biblical principle of giving according to what God has given you. Enhanced by the sharing of time and talent, our treasure contribution to our church is motivated by our love for God and fellow man.

A Special Tribute

During the 100+ years of our history, many parishioners have served our community as great benefactors. One, however, stands out, as a unique person who stood at the helm of this comminity during the most difficult and most critical decade in the history of our parish. That individual is Dr. Anthony Borden of blessed memory, who served as president from 1967 to 1977. For his exemplary dedication to the community, Dr. Borden was proclaimed president emeritus for life in 1976. On the feastday of the Annunciation the same year, the Archdiocese designated him national commander of the Order of St. Andrew, an international brotherhood of laymen, whose mission is to defend and support the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.

Three other parishioners have been designated parish council members emeritus:

Paul Millili of blessed memory, who served as treasurer for a long time.
George Sandilos of blessed memory, who served on the parish council as as president.
Peter Millili, who also served on the parish council for a long time.

Holy Consecration

The blessed event of the Consecration, or baptism, of our Holy Temple, took place on the weekend of October 6-7, 2001. Our beloved Archbishop Demetrios of America officiated at the Services of Great Vespers, Orthros, Consecration and Divine Liturgy that sealed the observance of the blessed event with all the ancient Byzantine splendor and piety. The celebration of the Consecration coincided with the Centennial Anniversary of the founding of our community in South Philadelphia at the turn of the last century.

From those humble beginnings in South Philadelphia, to our present location in Elkins Park, the Church of Annunciation / Evangelismos, Greek Orthodox Community of Philadelphia has been serving, by the grace of God, as the guiding light for Orthodoxy and Hellenism for the entire Delaware Valley.

Early priests who served our parish were missionaries. They traveled great distances between Philadelphia, Washington DC, Pittsburgh and New York to serve the needs of the new immigrants. The following priests are on record as serving our community since 1904.

In Philadelphia, 12 & Fitzwater Street:

Interim Priests (1901-1904)

V. Rev. Nathaniel Sideris (1904)
Rev. Theodore Proussianos (1906)
Rev. Demetrios Petrides (1907-1911)
Rev. Raphael Morgan (1907-1916) A convert from Jamaica, Fr. Raphael was ordained at the Ecumenical Patriarchate and is believed to be the first Black Orthodox priest in America.
Rev. Chrysanthos Kaplanis (1911)
Rev. Christos Angelopoulos (1912-1918)
Rev. Dionysios Papadatos (1918-1922)
Rev. Thomas Daniel (1922)
Rev. John Kyriazis (1922-1925)
Rev. Constantine Papanicolaou (1926)
Rev. John Danaskos (1926-1930)
Rev. Vasilios Papanikas (1931)
Rev. Constantine Hatzidemetriou (1932)
Rev. John Gerotheou (1933)
V. Rev. Aimilianos Lalousis (1934)
Rev. Demetrios Papantoniou (1935-1937)
Rev. Chrysostom Morkides (1937-1961)
V. Rev. Neophytos Spyrogiannakis (1961-1965) During his tenure, the Parish relocated to Elkins Park in 1962
V. Rev. Joackim Isidoridis (1965)
Rev. George Papademetriou (1965-1967)
Rev. Paul Economides (1968-1970)
Rev. John Limberakis (1970-1990)
Rev. Anastasius Bandy (1990) Interim Priest
Rev. Robert Archon (1990-2006)
Rev. Christos Christofidis (2006-present)