Храм свв. Константина и Елены (Палос-Хиллз)

As the Greeks immigrated to the United States of America, they created new communities outside of the motherland in key cities such as New York, Boston, and Chicago. In order to maintain their ties to their ethnicity and continue to participate in their unique customs, it was extremely important for them to establish Greek Orthodox Churches in their new homes.  These communities were the center places where they could gather, pray together, baptize their young, marry, educate their children and make their mark in their new home. Thus began the story of the immigrants who went through the process of adjusting to a foreign city, taking advantage of every opportunity to build a better way of life and retaining a profound awareness of their identity and heritage.  Most Greek immigrants came to this country for the economic opportunity of building a better life.  They brought with them a love of freedom, the pursuit of excellence, competition, pride (philotimo), and a strong sense of community.  These values and ideals were essential components seen within their homes, in the nurturing and upbringing of their children and in their church communities. The early Greek immigrants faced many obstacles adjusting to their new home in Chicago.  This, however, did not deter them from working hard to become good Americans and assimilate into the American culture.  They prospered, provided for their families, and maintained their religious and cultural legacy by establishing churches and organizing schools.  The Greek immigrants worked as street corner sellers of candy, flowers, fruit and other food items.  Saving their money, they eventually opened candy stores, little restaurants, fruit markets, shoeshine parlors, and other small businesses.  This work ethic and living philosophy to succeed continued to evolve with acculturation into the American society.

Around the turn of the century, an increasing number of Greek immigrants were concentrated on the near West Side of the city, in the area known as Greek Town.  They attended Holy Trinity, the first permanent Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, which was established in 1897.  By 1905, an increasing number of these immigrants moved toward the South Side of the city.  Thus, the need arose for the creation of another Greek Orthodox community. Prior to the actual foundation of SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, there are two documented examples of South Side community activities directed toward the founding of a South Side Greek Church. There were a significant number of people to accomplish this feat, but there was a lack of aggressive leadership to mobilize the actions needed to reach this end.  The first was a meeting held on February 9, 1908, with 125 people in attendance.  A discussion took place about purchasing land on the South Side for a new church.  The second was a picnic held on June 3, 1908.  This event raised $800 that went into a building fund for a new South Side parish.   On January 29, 1909, 350 people attended a meeting to render a decision on building a South Side church.  However, nothing was resolved.  Finally, the issue of a South Side parish became a reality on April 25, 1909, when approximately 350 people attended an organizational meeting and voted to establish an independent parish dedicated to SS. Constantine and Helen.  All persons present became members upon payment of twenty-five cents, and temporary officers were elected.  Prior to this meeting, property had already been purchased for this structure at 61st Street and South Michigan Avenue.

The leadership for this movement, and the founders of the first parish of SS. Constantine and Helen were among the early Greek immigrant settlers in Chicago.  They were members of Holy Trinity.  This small nucleus of leaders used mass meetings and social events to develop community support.  This was important for renting a hall on Wentworth Avenue between 62nd and 63rd streets for religious services while the parish was under construction.  The official first picnic held by the parish was June 9, 1909. SS. Constantine and Helen was the first Greek Orthodox Church built by Greeks in Chicago.  The first church building of the parish opened its doors in October of 1910.  The approximate cost of erecting the building was $30,000.  The Very Reverend Archimandrite Ambrose Mandilaris was the first regularly assigned priest.  He supervised the construction of the church with the assistance of a committee of parishioners.  Father Ambrose was instrumental in the fundraising activities of the church. The first church building was designed with no pews or organ, similar to the churches in Greece.  It was a two-story dark-brick structure with an English-type basement, a central dome and two smaller domes.  Classrooms were constructed on the ground floor.  The church proper was on the first floor.  A special balcony was built on the second floor for the women of the congregation, which was a custom in Greece called “Gynaikonitis.” The community experienced growth and prosperity.  In 1910, the year the church opened its doors, a parish day school was established.  Adamantios Koraes School was named in honor of the intellectual father of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, and a steadfast advocate of the “purist” form of the Greek language.  The early immigrants wanted to ensure that their children would be able to read and write the language of their ancestors.  The school became a focal center of the community preparing and imparting the cultural heritage and Greek language to children born of Greek parents and future generations.  The religious heritage was another component of the school.  Greek was the only language of instruction until 1922.  It was then that English was introduced and public school accreditation was received.

In 1923, under the direction of Father Mark E. Petrakis, the transition began towards that of an urban church with a variety of organizational and administrative functions. Prior to this transition, the church operated as a rural parish, which emphasized the elements of baptizing, marrying and burying.  Father Petrakis assumed direct command and administered the church and school in close cooperation with the Board of Trustees. With the growth of the community, a number of new organizations and activities evolved to encourage the involvement of its members. In 1916, a ladies society was formed.  In the 1920’s, the Knights of St. Constantine was formed to promote religious knowledge to its members.  In 1923, the Young Ladies Hellenic Society “Nea Genea” was organized for the young unmarried women.  This group was later renamed “Agia Paraskevi.”  The St. Helen’s Benevolent Society, known today as St. Helen Women’s Philoptochos, was organized in 1924 for philanthropic and charitable work. This group also aided the church with its fundraising efforts. In 1923, an afternoon Greek School was begun for children who attended the public schools.  The forerunner of the Sunday School program was when Presvytera Petrakis organized classes in Greek to teach the Orthodox faith to all the children of the parish. A disastrous fire caused the destruction of the church in the early hours of Holy Monday on April 26, 1926.  At great personal risk, Father Petrakis raced into the burning church and rescued the holy relics from the sanctuary.  This heroic act provided a sense of pride for the parishioners and their unwavering support for the future success of the parish.
The generosity of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago made it possible for Holy Week services to be celebrated at St. Paul Episcopal Church at 53rd and Dorchester.  Easter Sunday Divine Liturgy was conducted at Christ Church at 64th and Woodlawn Avenue.  It was on this day that the parishioners learned that plans were being made to immediately begin the task of rebuilding the church…

 

…Through the strength, resolve and faith of the people, the community embarked on the next arduous task of rebuilding the community at a new location.  Prior to the official move to the community’s current location, an interim period took place for the next three years.  This allowed time for the design and construction of the new church and school.  The community was fortunate in finding a temporary home for Koraes and its religious services at the First Church of the Nazarene at 8345 South Damen Avenue.  It was cramped, but Koraes continued in mobile classrooms and all religious services, including weddings, baptisms, and funerals were held at this location.  Even though several parishioners held their weddings and baptisms at sister parishes, they never lost hope that a new facility would be built.  Groundbreaking ceremonies for this edifice took place on the Feast Day of SS. Constantine and Helen in 1974 with the school and auditorium being built first. The parish celebrated its first Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday of 1975 in the new auditorium, which later became the gym.  It was named in honor of the man whose efforts provided the parish with the opportunity to move successfully and construct a new school, auditorium and church debt free.  The total cost of the project was completed with the sum of $3,500,000.  On May 21, 1976, precisely two years after construction began, His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos officiated at the Thyranoixia (Door Opening) Ceremonies.

The current church complex has an impressive gold dome and cross in the modified neo-Byzantine style.  Twelve distinctive stained glass windows grace the church’s interior.  The Byzantine iconography includes the Pantocrator and Platytera.  The brass iconostasion and chandeliers are elegantly crafted, and the marble solea is embedded with the mosaic Byzantine eagle. The parish of SS. Constantine and Helen held its consecration ceremony on May 11, 1980.  This was the 1650th anniversary of the consecration of Constantinople, founded by St. Constantine the Great.  The steps of this service included baptizing, anointing, sanctifying, consecrating and dedicating the church of God as an Orthodox Christian house of worship. As in the preceding periods, pastoral leadership was and continues to be very paramount to the success of the community and the development of its spiritual ministries.  Father Byron’s loving and patient leadership traits have become noted throughout the Archdiocese.  Several young priests from the seminary have come to serve and learn under Father Byron’s tutelage. They in turn have gone on to become pastors at their own parishes throughout the country.  Each has brought a new dimension to the community.   Their personalities have had an impact on the community and the community life.  Everyone has brought something unique to the table. Father Alexander Karloutsos had a cosmopolitan view of the world that he related to parishioners either through sermons or dealing with individuals in all age groups.  He moved on to serve our Archdiocese in a variety of capacities spreading the word of Orthodoxy from a small town parish to the Oval Office.  Father Dean Paleologos shared his humility and spirituality by offering an example of Christian love to young and old.  He is currently the dean of St. Spyridon Cathedral in Worcester, MA.  Father Kosmas Karavellas demonstrated his zest for life when he shared the Christ in him with the Christ in us.   He is pastor of SS. Constantine and Helen Church in Annapolis, MD.  Father Nicholas Jonas energetically developed new ministries and further developed existing ones, thereby increasing our spiritual awareness.  His administrative talents were recognized by the Archdiocese and he was assigned to Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans, LA to assist with the upcoming Clergy-Laity Congress.  Father Nick’s love and respect for Father Byron and our parish brought him back to our community a few years later where he once again served as an assistant and is now the pastor.

During the past two decades, the parish has had several pastoral assistants to help ensure the success and implementation of the many programs taking place in the community.  James Greanias, Peter Spiro, Tom De Medeiros and Chris Avramopoulos, have served under the guideful hands of both Father Byron and Father Nick, training them in the liturgical life of our parish as well as our varied ministries.  Time has seen them serve the Orthodox Church as priests and in other spiritual capacities.  The visions of the original founders remain alive today.  The parish has seen a continuation of the many programs implemented during the previous church periods, as well as the inclusion of many new ministries and programs. With all the parish offers, the present facilities are utilized seven days a week. Even though fundraising efforts were not needed to finance the construction of the parish facilities, it has been necessary to reach out to the parishioners to help fund the ministries and programs as well as maintain the facilities of the community. Over time, the parish has slowly assimilated itself to “Americanize” in serving the people.  There has been an increase in the use of English in the Divine Liturgy and other sacramental and liturgical services of the church.  This has taken place because of the number of converts to the Orthodox faith and the growing number of people who do not understand or know the Greek language.  This change in the community was the impetus for the creation of Road to Orthodoxy (convert classes).  Father Byron organized the Spiritual Life Committee to promote spirituality among the faithful.  This led to the formation of Adult Bible Study groups conducted in both Greek and English.  As part of this committee, specialized classes have emerged to address current needs of the community, which include Journey to Oneness (pre-marital seminars) and Godparent Seminars. The youth continue to be an active segment of the community, engaging in religious, social, and athletic activities.  The various segments of the youth program are focused on JOY (Junior Orthodox Youth ages 7-13), GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America grades 8-12) and YAL (Young Adult League-college and older).  Throughout the year, many programs are conducted on both a parish and diocesan level to keep the youth involved.  A majority of these programs evolved and grew during this phase of parish life.

The Metropolis Junior Olympics, the “brainchild” of Father Kosmas, was first held in May of 1982.  It has been nurtured and staffed by this parish ever since.  This Memorial Day weekend event brings together over two thousand youth from the states of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin for athletic competition and Orthodox Christian fellowship.  This event has expanded since its inception.  Originally, facilities at the church complex and Stagg High School were used.  Now facilities at Moraine Valley Community College are utilized as well.  Different sporting events have been added over time.    The parish priests continue to be involved with the youth of the parish.  Father Alex has led discussions in homes of young adults.  Father Dean has led spiritual retreats.  Father Kosmas, better known as Father Ike, did cartwheels and headstands with the children.  Fr. Nick has played baseball with the youth.  Father Panteleimon Dalianis has gone camping on the family camping weekends he has organized. In September of 1984, Father Kosmas began the JOY Basketball League.  This and GOYA basketball have evolved over the years by providing opportunities for both boys and girls to participate on a competitive team.  In 2004, pastoral assistant Tom De Medeiros began JOY Nite, a way for the younger members of the parish to learn more about their faith in a fun way.  GOYA has weekly activities that bring the youth together.  Also included is a teen discussion component which provides opportunity for the youth to engage in dialogue about the faith and issues they face in their everyday lives.  GOYAns have the opportunity to participate in a yearly ski trip; a Great America outing; raise money with the Community Christmas Card and bake sales; and participate in philanthropic works, such as Christmas caroling, and nursing home visitations. The Young Adult group meets for social outings and religious discussions on a regular basis.   Campus Ministries began as an outreach program for college students by providing a time for students of the Orthodox faith to gather on their college campus and engage in spiritual discussions with a parish priest.

When the parish hosts the picnic, the community relies on the parishioners and our youth to provide necessary assistance needed for the set-up and clean up of the event.  An added benefit of the festival is the support from the local community of Palos Hills and surrounding communities.  Many come to this event for the Greek food and pastries. JOY basketball and soccer is very popular because of its popularity in the American culture.  The Folk Dance Troupe have entertained spectators at the Festival, dinners, and other events by invitation.  This group has afforded the youth a look at their Greek heritage through another venue.  Learning the dances of different regions of Greece has enlightened them to learn about various costumes and differences within the Greek community. Another great adventure the youth of the parish can partake in is a trip to Ionian Village.  This is an Archdiocesan Camp in Greece for 7th-12th graders.  This is a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to make life-long friendships with others from across the country.  Closer to home is Fanari Camp. This is an opportunity to become better acquainted with other Orthodox youth within the Metropolis.  The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is an Archdiocesan speech competition dealing with religious topics.  The parish expanded this event to include the Sights and Sounds Youth Festival.  This expansion has allowed the opportunity for all youth of the parish, K-12, to celebrate their artistic talents.  Talents judged are music, dance, painting, mosaics, drawing, clay building and others.  Winners are awarded medals and ribbons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.  Winners could be individuals or a group.  To better involve the young ladies in the life of the church, the Sunday Church School organized the Handmaidens.  The young girls, grades 5th-8th, serve the church with candle duty, Epistle reading, Narthex duty and monthly workshops.  They learn about the church, conduct philanthropic projects, and help during Saturday of the Souls.  Their patron saint is Saint Tatiana.  This complements the service of our many Altar Boys who weekly and during Feast Days, serve our Lord’s Altar alongside our Priests with great dignity and strong faith.

The parish has expanded the awareness of service to the community at large through Project Diakonia.  This group has been involved with new ministries of our parish or expanding philanthropic programs conducted by other organizations within the parish, such as the food pantry, soup kitchen, I.O.C.C., missions, Holy Land outreach, orphanages, toy drive for DCFS and SAMP (support a mission priest).  This outreach to the community and beyond is due in part to the education of the new generation, the increase of parishioners with professional careers, and the assimilation into the American culture.  Another means of service orientation is Witness to Christ’s Love ministry.  This is for persons who would like to participate in nursing home visitations.   Orthodox Charities Weekend is held the last weekend in September including a bike/run/walk/skate-a-thon to raise money for various Orthodox charities.  Participants approach sponsors to pledge money.  Another aspect of this weekend is the blood drive.  Members of the parish donate blood for local blood banks.  Compassionate Support Group was begun to provide an opportunity for parishioners who have lost loved ones to come together to deal with their grief.  The group is a support network for persons who have a difficult time coping.  Changes in society prompted the formation of Orthodox Christians for Life.  This is a Pan-Orthodox ministry “from the womb to the tomb” that the parish is actively involved in.  An outlet provided for all senior citizens is the Golden Circle.  This group is in cooperation with the Hellenic Foundation.  Monthly activities, such as speakers, outings, or lunches are planned for the seniors. St. Helen Women’s Philoptochos continues to play a vital role in the life of the community. The bazaar has now become a craft show with outside vendors.  There is also an extensive food festival during this event.  As with the church festival, the Palos Hills community and outlying communities support this event. The Ladies Hellenic Society, Agia Paraskevi, has also remained an important component of the community life.  The ladies continue to support the philanthropic efforts of the parish.

Changes in society have brought changes to the parish in other ways.  Computers are now an integral part of the day-to-day operations in the church office.  Communication with the community includes e-mail messages. The church has a web site that is updated with articles and pictures regularly. Over time, many changes have also occurred at Koraes.  The students now work in a computer lab.  Greek instruction is only one period a day.  Physical education takes place on a daily basis.  There is a school band.  Eighth graders wear caps and gowns for the graduation ceremony followed by dinner at a restaurant.  A Pre-School program and full day Kindergarten are now offered. Sixth through eighth grades are departmentalized.  School buses are no longer a means of transportation. Our parish shares a strong community relationship with the city of Palos Hills.  The city council honored Father Byron by naming Roberts Road between 107th and 111th Street “Honorary Father Byron Way.”  This was an honor the city wanted to bestow upon Father Byron, not only for the leadership he has offered the Greek community, but also the greater Palos Hills community. The community has attained the heights of Christian fellowship that the original founders had intended through the strong, compassionate, and consistent leadership of Father Byron.  Father Nicholas Jonas succeeded Father Byron as pastor on June 4, 2006.  He has put forth the challenge for the community beyond 2009.  “In all that we do in our sacramental, educational, social, philanthropic, athletic and organizational ministries…we need to go forth…from the Altar to the streets.”