Father Dimitrios
“The world has found in you a great champion in time of peril, as you emerged the victor in routing the barbarians. For as you brought to naught the boasts of Lyaios, imparting courage to Nestor in the stadium, in like manner, holy one, great Martyr Demetrios, invoke Christ God for us, that He may grant us His great mercy.“ ….Apolytikion Celebrated: October 26
Greeks began organizing in 1957 towards the building of the church, and each ”member” contributed $10 a month towards the building. Jimmy Condon became the first unofficial (later official) President of the community and secured the land in Spruce Cliff where our Church continues to thrive. Bricklayers Gus and Nick Kolias and carpenters, George and Stavros Melathopoulos, George Sfakianakis, and Peter Giannakos all donated their time and expertise to the building.
There are 4 bottles of agiasmos , one in each corner of the foundation, placed by Maritsa Sainis, who later became one of the first chanters in the church. Volunteers worked for three years on evenings and weekends from April to September to build the church.
In October, 1959, the unfinished church was blessed and the first liturgy was performed. It was named St. Demetrios after Jimmy Condon’s patron Saint, as first president of the community, first benefactor and driving force behind the building of the church.
The first wedding was performed August 21, 1959 between Nina Agioritis and Gus Kolias. The next day the first double wedding was performed between Tony Devetzis and Angeliki Panagakou and Christo Devetzakis and Anna Argiris. Philoptochos was formed on December 9, 1962 by Father Dem. Kavouras and GOYA, Greek School and Sunday School were established shortly after.
In 1978, plans were drawn up to expand the church to its current size. On October 26, 1979 (St Demetrios Feast Day) the official opening of the
community centre took place. Interestingly, three of the five fulltime priests in our Church have been named Demetrios.
In 1959, there were 5 baptisms, 7 weddings and 1 funeral held in the Church. In 2009, there were 50 baptisms, 14 weddings and 9 funerals held. As of April 2010, there have been a total of 661 weddings, 1, 778 baptisms, and 251 funerals performed in our church.