Hundreds of joy-filled parishioners representing the Saint Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church Family gathered for its Gala to enthusiastically celebrate its 60th Anniversary of existence in Aurora October 19, at the Stonebridge Country Club. His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago reflected on the unique loving dynamics, impactful outreach and growth Saint Athanasios’ Orthodox Christians exhibit to their community-at-large.
Meaningful moments unfolded. Rev. Fr. Panagiotis Boznosspoke of the past sacrifices of founding members who immigrated from Kandyla (the region of Arcadia’s largest village in the Peloponessos) and Levidi in Greece. All parishioners simultaneously rose out of respect and stood in loving comraderie while Fr. Boznos expressed his heartfelt gratitude to living Founding Members James and Dena Deligiannis and Gus and Penny Zaharias on behalf of the Church. They represented original Charter Members which included: George N. Andrews, Jennie Andrews, Alexandra Bazos, Bessie Bazos, Sam Bazos, Alexandra Brown, Manuel Brown, Zoe Chioles, Gus Cordogan, Chris Dagiantis, James Dagiantis, Peter Dagiantis, Chris Deligiannis, Dena Deligiannis, James Deligiannis, Tom Drosos, NafsikaGeorgadou, Tom Gerogakoupoulos, Chris Hountalas, KalliopeKarlos, Mike Karlos, Ademena G. Kingsley, Catherine G. Kingsley, Eva Kontos, Michael H. Kontos, Ruby Kontos, Bessie Koulos, Chris Koulos, Jane Koulos, Nick Koumoutseas, Chris Kousoulas, Harry Kouvavas, KalliopeKrontiris, Thomas Magin, Chris T. Mesiacos, Helen Metrou, Nick Metrou, Hercules Panagopoulos, Irene Panagopoulos, Katherine Papasideris, Stamos Papasideris, Speros M. Pappas, Sam Poulos, Alexandra Sotrop, James Stamatopoulos, Peter Stamatopoulos, Theodora Stamatopoulos, James Theodor,Nicky Theodor, Tom Theodor, Constantine J. Zaharias and Penny Zaharias.
An evening filled with laughter, live music and dancing, parishioners honored their past, embrace the present, and look forward with hope to the future. Gala organizers Anna Caniglia, Victoria Kappos, Nick Dagiantis and George Manos extended their heartfelt gratitude to this incredible community for making the60th Anniversary Gala dinner such a memorable celebration. Dimitri Moraetes prepared a video in which parishioners shared their memories and experiences truly touching everyone’s hearts. Parishioners thank God for the gift of this united community of Orthodox Christians and for blessing everyone with a night to remember.
The official beginning of Saint Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church began on September 1, 1965 when it received its full Ecclesiastical Charter from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America.