Philadelphia, PA – St. George Cathedral hosted its 100 anniversary with a centennial gala and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy this weekend. The events united friends and dignitaries from around the country with ties to the historic Cathedral, where Greek immigrants first settled and planted roots in the region.
“It happens once in One Hundred Years,” said His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, at the gala event. The Archbishop also attended the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday. He recognized the long immigrant history, the city’s name, and the beautiful church facade in his speeches.
The gala featured the singing of the national anthems by Voula Liacopoulos and a welcome speech by Archon John Sarkioglu, Chairman of the 100th Anniversary. Mistress of Ceremonies Georgia I. Chletcos, a long-time member of the Greek community with ties to the church, energized the crowd with her nostalgic reflection on the history and experiences at the historic Cathedral.
Sheila Hess, City Representative of Philadelphia, awarded and announced a proclamation from the city of Philadelphia. While his Excellency Konstantinos Konstantinou, Council General of Greece in New York, spoke about his first visit to Philadelphia and its impressive Greek community. Also in attendance were, The Honorable Georgia Athanasopoulos, Council General of the Republic of Panama, and The Honorable Ourania Papademetriou, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Parish Council President Professor Kostis Kourelis, The Very Rev. Archimandrite Ambrose Bitziadis-Bowers, and the Dean of the Cathedral thanked the parish members for their years of service.
Additional events will be hosted throughout the year to celebrate and mark the 100th anniversary of the Cathedral. More can be found on the church website Saint George Cathedral.