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Orthodox Observer - December 1996

Ohio Parishes Welcome Archbishop Spyridon "Home"

Archbishop Spyridon returned to his native state in late October, making his first pastoral visit to Ohio for with the feast of St. Demetrios. He celebrated vespers and Liturgy at the saint's namesake church in Warren on the 25th and 26th.

DOZENS OF parish children of St. Demetrios in Warren stand with His Eminence, Bishop Maximos, Fr. Mi- chelis and other clergy in front of the Iconostasion.

(Nicholas Manginas photo)

On Sunday, the 27th, His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church in Steubenville, where he spent his formative years through age 8.

He was assisted by Bishop Maximos of Pittsburgh, Fr. Dean Dimon, pastor of Holy Trinity, Fr. Dennis Michelis, pastor of St. Demetrios in Warren, and 12 other area clergy.

"It was a very impressive visit," said Fr. Michelis of the Archbishop's pastoral visit. "It was a very memorable weekend. People were very impressed, very satisfied."

According to information from Fr. Michelis, a reception hosted by the Philoptochos followed the Vespers service, where parishioners related to His Eminence or who knew his parents in the early 1940s, met with him.

ALTAR BOYS of St. Demetrios with His Eminence

(Nicholas Manginas photo)

On Saturday, the 26th, during the Liturgy, in addition to Bishop Maximos and the pastor, other assisting clergy included Frs. Christ Hadjigeorge (retired), John Carabatsos of St. Nicholas Church, Youngstown, and Kenneth Bachofski of St. Nicholas Carpatho-Russian Church in Warren.

After the service, His Eminence and the congregation proceeded to the community center where the Archbishop blessed an 18-foot cross erected outside the center, a gift of parishioner Gust Polychronis.

Interviews followed with three Youngstown TV stations and three newspapers the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Youngstown Vindicator and Warren Tribune Chronicle.

More than 600 persons from Warren, Cleveland, Youngstown, and Sharon, Pa., attended an afternoon luncheon honoring His Eminence. Anthony J. Payiavlas served as master of ceremonies.

SAVAS PETRIDES, the Arch- bishop's Greek school teacher in Steubenville, reminisces about his former pupil.

Parish Council President Christ Zoumas welcomed Archbishop Spyridon and Fr. Michelis presented him with an architectural rendering of his former cathedral in Venice.

Among those welcoming the Archbishop were Gov. George V. Voinovich of Ohio, Katherine Savakis, an afternoon Greek school student who recited a poem in Greek; GOYA co-presidents Jackie Larentzos and Nicole Kalogerou; Marina J. Payiavlas, St. Demetrios Church school supervisor; Philoptochos chapter President Thalia Tsimpinos; and Mayor Henry J. Angelo of Warren who presented His Eminence with a proclamation.

The Warren Tribune Chronicle reported that Gov. Voinovich wore a gold crucifix on a red ribbon around his neck given to him by the Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1982. Voinovich said Spyridon's impact on the spiritual and material well-being on Ohioans brought him to Warren Saturday. "It's appropriate for the Governor of Ohio to appear as a symbol of respect," he told the paper.

ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON displays a plaque given to him by Dr. Charles Joyce, the superintendent of Steubenville schools at the luncheon at Holy Tri- nity Church.

In Steubenville, where the Archbishop spent several years as a child in the late 1940s and early '50s, he celebrated Liturgy and tonsured 11 new altar boys.

A luncheon took place afterward where the children of the parish, directed by their Greek language teacher Presbytera Daisy Dimon, presented various poetry readings.

"Teach the youth about the beauty of the faith. Keep the youth close to the Church," His Eminence said. "Never discourage even one child from becoming involved in ever aspect of the life of the Church."

Luncheon guests included the Archbishop's second grade teacher, Alyce Denning, Mayor Domenick Mucci, who presented him with a key to the city, Dr. Charles Joyce, Steubenville City Schools superintendent, and his Greek School teacher and family friend, Savas Petrides.

Petrides composed a poem that was read by his daughter, Angie Mahfood.

Other presentations came from the Junior GOYA and the "Grecian Stars" dance troupe.

Fr. Dimon presented His Eminence with an engolpion from the community.

Several parish organizations became stewards of the Diocese and made their initial offering to Bishop Maximos of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Nicholas Terezis served as toastmaster.

[ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 61, No. 1121 - December 1996 - pp. 4, 23 ]