Saturday, June 16, 2012

HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH and GREEK FEST 2012

Timeline:

Before 1918 - The more than a thousand Greeks who had come to Sioux City to work in the meat packing industry would travel to Omaha, Nebraska, 100 miles to the south to attend an occasional church service.


1918 - The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church history begins when the more than 500 Greeks, living in Sioux City, attended a meeting at a Knights of Columbus Hall. Led by Paikos K. Pappaphilipopoulos (who later Americanized his name to Peter Nelson), started a fund drive.


1920 - A corner property near downtown was purchased for $35,000.  The parcel included three houses, one of which they used as a temporary church.

 The first pastor was Fr. Constantinos Harvelas.


Spring 1925 - Designed by William L. Steele, construction of the permanent church began and the cornerstone was laid on Annunciation Day.

September 1925 - Construction of the new church was completed.


October 4, 1925 - Formal dedication took place.


July 1928 - A group of mostly World War I veterans organized Sioux City Chapter 191 of AHEPA under the leadership of George M. Paradise, who went on to become a municipal judge.  They immediately began a campaign to eliminate the church's debt, and purchased $5,000 in bonds that they donated to the parish.

1950 - The church and its parishioners celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Holy Trinity. Bishop Athenagoras Kokinakis of San Francisco visited during the celebration and delegations came from communities throughout the tri-state region.

1950's - This was a a period of progress for Holy Trinity.  Fr. Constantine Hallick, the parish's longest tenured priest, and the board of trustees started the annual church bazaars as a fund-raising source.  The bazaars eventually were replaced by Grecian Dinners which continue to serve as revenue sources.


Today the bazaars are known as Greek Fest.


February 1996 - The dedication and perseverance of the community was tested by a fire which gutted the church's interior.  A sixteen member renovation committee raised the $600,000 needed to restore the interior.  Under the direction and efforts of architect Christ Kamages of San Francisco, iconographer Elias Damianakis of Florida and woodcarver Steve Kavroulakis of Crete, the community acquired a new altar, sanctuary, narthex, iconostasion, and iconography.

1998 - Added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

June 1999 - Metropolitan Iakovos of Krinis, rededicated the church and called Holy Trinity "a jewel of the Midwest."


Today - The church continues to serve as the parish house of worship. It is the oldest Greek Orthodox church building in Iowa and, in physical size, the largest.  Holy Trinity Church is listed on the National Registry of Historic Buildings and is one of four churches selected by the local museum for its "Sacred History Tour" of the city.

Info Source:
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church History
National Register of Historic Places Information

Slide show and video:





















 

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