Detroit's Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Historic Greektown Honors Church's 100th Year With Grand Banquet on Saturday, May 15, and Divine Liturgy Service, Sunday, May 16
Nostalgic History To Be Celebrated On Both Occasions
DETROIT, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, May 15, 2010, religious and community leaders, parishioners, special guests and friends will gather together at a Grand Banquet at the Atheneum International Banquet and Conference Center in Detroit's historic Greektown in honor of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral's Centennial Celebration. This event is the cornerstone of the year's program of special gatherings, family reunions and religious services that commemorate 100 years of service to the Greek Orthodox communities.
Featured speakers and guests on both days include the following persons:
Saturday, May 15th Grand Banquet - 7 p.m. – Atheneum International Banquet and Conference Center, 1000 Brush Street, Detroit, MI 313.962.2323
- His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit, has direct spiritual authority, supervision and pastoral care over its clergy and parishes in seven states, including all of Michigan, Kentucky, and Arkansas, and parts of Indiana, upstate New York, Ohio and Tennessee. Through his years of service at all levels to the Greek Orthodox Church, his educational background and his deep and longstanding commitment to the Church, Metropolitan Nicholas has contributed greatly to the service of the 90,000 Greek Orthodox faithful in the Metropolis. He is an eloquent speaker and extraordinary communicator touching persons of all ages.
- Dr. Michael Morykwas – currently an Associate Professor of Surgery – Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Associate Faculty in the School for Biomedical Engineering Sciences of Virginia Tech/Wake Forest University, an Associate in Radiology-Bioengineering and an Associate in the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Morykwas co-holds several patents and, with Dr. Louis Argenta, invented the Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) wound closure device and technique, the standard for all wound care therapies worldwide has successfully been used to treat over 3,000,000 patients. The VAC is currently utilized by the United States Military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Morykwas married Mardene Galanos at the Annunciation Cathedral in 1981 and now resides in Winston Salem, NC. He received his B.S. degree in Biology from U of D and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Bioengineering from U of M. The Morykwas' are known for their personal and philanthropic efforts and are recognized across the country for their devotion to their Greek Orthodox faith, Special Olympics Challenge America, Canine Companions for Independence, Boy Scouts of America and more.
- George Raptis – the longest serving Greek Orthodox choir director in the country (since 1944) Raptis is a prominent composer and conductor of liturgical music; is well known throughout the country for his compositions and his active membership in Greek Orthodox Musicians Federations and Forums, earning highest honors and national recognition as a master. For the 100th Annunciation Anniversary, he has composed an original hymn based upon the Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy dismissal prayer. This hymn will be presented during the evening.
Sunday, May 16 – 10 a.m. – Hierarchical Divine Liturgy - Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral – 707 E. Lafayette, Detroit, MI 313.965.2988
His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit
- His Excellency, Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit. Chief Shepherd of the 1.4 million Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
"We are indebted to the first Greek Orthodox immigrants who chose to come to Detroit and in 1910, to establish the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church 100 years ago. We are grateful for their hard work that has paved the path for us. They had a sense of perseverance and of hope for their future and ours as well," said His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas.
"We have received a precious gift from them. They were not just one family, but one community with this wonderful obligation and a promise for the future. They encouraged education and practiced their faith away from their distant Greek homeland. This is the reality of a true community. It is the family away from home. It is the comfort of prayer together and the serenity and timeless traditions of the shared Greek Orthodox religion. Our Greek families lived by their faith, were true to their commitment to this community, had an inner courage and strength of which we as their descendents are so proud. They took risks and above all, had dreams that did become reality," continued Metropolitan Nicholas.
Often referred to as the "mother church" by the Greek Orthodox faithful in Michigan, Detroit's own Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral has reached a significant milestone in the church's history. 100 years ago on March 25, 1910, the State of Michigan chartered the new church as the Church of the Evangelismos. The articles of Association of the church members were drafted and the Association was incorporated under the provisions of Chapter 225 of the Compiled laws of 1897 and is known in law as "Evangelismos Theotokou."
A second story auditorium was rented at 42 Broadway to conduct church services. The first priest to serve was the Rev. Father Nathaniel Sideris. A parish council composed of President Demetrios Liskas and councilmen P. Maroudas, S. Athanasoulias, John Kyriakakos, Athan Barbayiannis and treasurer, Nicholas Parentesis, begin the organizational journey for the fledgling congregation.
Significant is the date, March 25th, as it also celebrates the Annunciation of The Theotokos religious holiday and church name day as well as Greek Independence Day.
For further description of the holiday's significance, go to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website at www.goarch.org.
"We are proud of our accomplishments and of the true dedication of those who came before us. They established and supported the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in times of great joy and in times of sorrow and uncertainty. It is the Greek fortitude that has kept us strong over the years," said Rev. Fr. Athanas (Tom) George, Dean of the Cathedral.
"It is a time of celebration for our parishioners and of remembrance and reverence for those who came before them. We honor their memories and will always appreciate their accomplishments and dedication to their faith," added Fr. George. "May God grant all of our families and the entire Greek Orthodox community at large every blessing."
100 years have brought many changes to Detroit's Greektown landscape. The original Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in 1910 became the center of commerce for the hundreds of Greeks who immigrated to America for a better life and a promising future. At the same time, the downtown area surrounding the church also became its own metropolis with families of original families settling in and growing a community.
1906-The Barbas brothers, John, Christos and Tom open a candy store at 33 Cadillac Square and continue their business until 1961
1909-beginning of 1910 -- 250 Greeks settle in Detroit on Monroe Street between Beaubien and St. Antoine.
1910-by the end of the year, 884 foreign –born Greeks live in Detroit according to the US Census records
1910-Greektown becomes a distinctive Detroit neighborhood. Two newspapers and Evangelismos Church are part of the community.
The church was and still is a place for all of "life's celebrations," the center of activity, education and fellowship for those who embraced their treasured Greek Orthodox religion and for those who passed this love for the church and its splendid traditions from generation to generation. The first marriage of record took place in 1912; the earliest baptism in 1913. The original church was constructed at 660 Macomb Street thus starting its long history. And in 1914, a day school is erected on newly-acquired land just east of the church with second priest, Father George Petrides overseeing its building. Fr. Petrides became the pastor in 1912 and served for 24 years, the longest of any other Annunciation priest. Rev. Fr. Ernst Blougouras served the community for 21 years and oversaw the development of the new Cathedral beginning in 1967. In addition, he is a past president of the Detroit Metropolitan Council of Churches. Fr. Blougouras will be in attendance at the May 15th Grand Banquet and May 16th Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
Religious and social contributions are many. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral provided a hub, a place of worship for all Greeks in the metro Detroit area. It has led to cultural and religious development by maintaining the Greek heritage and customs, perpetuating the Orthodox faith for 100 years. Recognized as a historic site, Annunciation has made a commitment to the City of Detroit by remaining downtown even as other Greek Orthodox churches have established churches, first on the east, west and north sides of Detroit and then into the suburbs. The rest, as they say, is history. From small markets and bakeries to restaurants and coffee houses, Monroe became the main street of Greektown and continues to this date.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral is, as was stated before, the "mother church." It is part of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit encompassing seven states including Michigan, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio and Tennessee. Further information about the church may be obtained by visiting the website at www.annunciationcathedral.org as well as access to Greek Orthodox religious insight at www.goarch.org.
SOURCE Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
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