Prologue

by Reverend Father Miltiades B. Efthimiou, Parish Priest from 1960 to 1967

The story of the Greek Community of Detroit is essentially the story of Hellenism in America. It was in the early nineties that the promise of America began to attract the younger men, first from the villages around Sparta and the uplands of Arcadia, then from the remaining villages of the then tiny Greece, and finally from the other Greek lands still under foreign rule. A cross-section of Hellenism gradually formed in many American cities, very much like Detroit, whose Greek Community in 1892 numbered about one hundred young men under thirty.

To better understand the life and work of these immigrants, we should know what manner of men they were. They grew up in villages where life, despite the turmoil and upheaval of the centuries, continued much as it did in the days of Homer. Tilling the soil and tending the flocks brought them a meager living, however abundant the sweat of their brow. They were passionately attached to home, family, Church and village. Deeply imbued with the "Greek Spirit," they loved the sunbathed land and the unique beauty of every living thing in it; the legendary folklore combined with the grandeur that was Golden Greece; and life itself in the festive religious holidays, the folk songs and the dances.

These young men arrived in America with only the treasures of their heritage and the spirit of their race in their hearts. Many could barely read or write and very few had studied beyond the village school. They had no knowledge of English or of the way of life in the new world. Consequently, they were at the very bottom of the social and economic ladder. For us today, it is difficult to visualize the long climb from those beginning days of the menial laborers, through the days of the roving vendors’ "trade," to the days of factory workers. But they felt a deep spiritual need, too. In the early 1900’s, they traveled many miles (from as far away as Ohio) to the "Evangelismos" Church in Detroit. This inner need led them on to expand and to found communities such as Sts. Constantine and Helen. However humble its beginnings, what follows here is the Liturgy of the struggles that brought this Community to its day of Consecration.

History of Saints Constantine and Helen Church

With prayer and hope as their assets, a small group of women from the Evangelismos Church decided to organize a Greek School for their youngsters. The need, they felt, was important in order to instill the rich heritage of their ancestors. This small group of approximately twenty-five families, began holding meetings in a rented hall located at 724 Myrtle Street, Detroit. It was at one of these meetings that the idea was conceived to start a Church instead of a school on the west side of Detroit. In about October of 1930 (exact records having since been lost or destroyed) the first official meeting was held to elect the first Board of Trustees for the new Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church Group. The elected officers were: Mr. Nicholas Merrick, President; Aheleas Karres, Vice-President; Helen Ladas, Secretary; and Athanasios Dougekos, Treasurer. Faced with the responsibility of collecting funds for their new Church group, they presented a Greek play, ~Golfo" in the Spring of 1931 at the Maccabees Building. The play proved so successful that they raised over $1,000, which was a substantial sum for the economic times.

Following two years of spiritual gatherings on Myrtle Street, the founders moved to their new location at Fourteenth and Forest Streets, where the first spiritual leader, Father George Dougekos, and President, Nicholas Merrick, continued their solemn responsibilities. When the group moved from Fourteenth and Forest, they found themselves relocating many times and in various locations, During this period of time, the group began holding Liturgy in the home of one of their members. Liturgical services were conducted in this home for two years. In 1938, they settled in a hall on Fourteenth and Grand River above the Strand Theatre. At this time, the first collection was made for funds to build a new, permanent Church.

Under the sanction of the Greek Archdiocese of North and South America, and after years of hardship and sacrifices, the sacred goal of a Church for all Northwest Detroit Greek Orthodox citizens was officially and publicly proclaimed. The leadership was provided by Father Alexander Papastefanou until the election of Mr. Fred Kourmadas as president on January 17. 1939, when the two began working closely to make their dream a reality. In the ensuing three years, many momentous decisions were made for what was to be the future of the community. First, repeated efforts were made to unite with the community of St. Nicholas under one holy roof. ‘This union was not destined to materialize, and efforts were concentrated on the construction of a new Church. On December 6 l94~ the Board of Directors appointed the first permanent Building Fund Committee dedicated to the completion of the divine task of gathering the necessary funds for this project.

By June, 1943, adequate funds were solicited to permit purchase of the first church property on West Chicago and Woodside. This location was sold a year later, and on October 15, 1944, the present site of our Church was purchased for $5,000. On this date, the first Articles of Incorporation were changed to read that this community \vould be knoxvn as~ The Greek Orthodox Church of Sts. Constantine and Helen." In May, 1945, during the presidency of Mr. Peter Constantine. the Church plans were approved. However, efforts to lay the cornerstone were curtailed due to the serious shortage of materials and the severe post—war rise in building costs, which more than doubled the original estimate.

Through the administrations of Messrs. Jack Jones in 1947 and Peter Pavoris in 1948, the drive was intensely renewed to raise the required funds to at least begin construction of the edifice. On November 14, 1948, the first concrete step to the dream of eighteen years was realized through the official laying of the Sts. Constantine and Helen Church Cornerstone.

Progress was slow in completing the finances needed for the project, and as a result, a General Community Meeting was held on August 3, 1949, to stimulate and crystalize the financial planning. Mr. J. C. Constand was appointed chairman of a committee with full authority to negotiate a satisfactory financial arrangement. As a strong incentive, eight members posted $5,000 each for the purchase of bonds. Added to other sizeable contributions, there was then an adequate accumulation of funds to allow for the financing of the project. These eight benefactors were: James C. Constand, George Lamberis, William Johnson, Sam Metros, William Keros, Gust Keros, Dan Rine and Peter Constantine.

In early 1950, Mr. J. C. Constand was elected president, and on Palm Sunday, 1950, the first Liturgy was held with an overflowing congregation, despite the incomplete and partially open dome.

As the community grew, open debts were met rapidly and church structural and decorative refinements were incorporated. It soon became apparent that community needs, other than spiritual, were not being met. The children attended Sunday School in a rented building, the P.T.A., Philoptochos and other organizations held their social and business affairs in rented halls. and young adult groups met in private homes. It was necessary to complement the beautiful Church with an integrated educational and community center. By 1954, preliminary meetings and planning were under way.

When Mr. Charles G. Cummings was elected president in April. 1956, special assignments were delegated to committees, and Mr. Basil Foussianes was appointed chairman of the Community Center Building Committee. By 1957, architectural plans were proposed, reviewed and approved. A rally was organized, and with His Grace, Bishop Izekiel of Chicago leading a spontaneous pledge drive, $26,000 was collected. Through concentrated efforts thereafter, adequate funds were generated to permit the commencement of construction for the Sts. Constantine and Helen Educational and Community Center in March, 1958.

Under the spiritual leadership of the Reverend Fathers George Bacopulos and Miltiades B. Efthimiou, and presidencies of Basil Foussianes, Theodore Monolidis and finally Theodore Wm. Russell, during whose tenure the consecration actually took place, the second big dream of the Community and Educational Center became a firm reality! The building will always reflect the faith and devotion of the younger generation, following in the footsteps of their forefathers.