Greek Orthodox Church of St. George (Piscataway, New Jersey)
greek orthodox church st george piscataway new jersey largest greek congregation new jersey u congregation celebrated th anniversary well rd anniversary greek festival th annual greek festival take place may – archimandrite nektarios cottros became presiding priest january president church george athanasopoulos july greek orthodox community new brunswick incorporated sunday liturgy member new community held second floor eagles’ hall corner neilson church street permanent priest different priest officiated sunday however new community floundered year existence board trustee dissolved church service eagle hall stopped second group men met discussed build permanent church thus first st george building fund spearheaded nicholas chilakos john stroumtsos father vasilios daskalakis nicholas konstantakos served treasurer raised money new church church service begun time christ episcopal church also new brunswick time greek school new board trustee formed john stroumtsos president new board cost new church estimated u land would sit would cost total mortgage taken new board middlesex title guarantee company lot new church would stand located river road highland park central location easily accessed people surrounding town construction began completed total cost building imbedded cornerstone building bottle containing listing first board trustee father george spyridakis priest land bought later reassigned newark community first priest newly built church father daskalakis early year treasury often lacked necessary fund conduct church business community called upon give time talent first paint job paid founder gregory mackaronis father daskalakis personally paid essential outfit ayia trapeza nicholas costa made repair church needed community survived grew internal strife greece world war impact highland park community rift developed community parishioner took side political issue affecting greece although record year recorded result rift two greek school two different congregation held religious service simultaneously time first greek school begun constitution adopted choir formed philoptochos st barbara begun eventually rift resolvedwhen world war ii began many young firstgeneration greek men new brunswick community went war return veteran returning area beginning family founder began thinking term new church building would include community center classroom sunday school greek school general assembly meeting december building fund committee created solicit fund construction new church community center classroom may committee transferred collected tenyear period church treasury march general assembly authorized board trustee appoint committee study feasibility building new church community center june overwhelming majority general assembly voted purchase land located corner river road riverview avenue upon approval architect william loumos retained begin drawing plan specification recommended board finally january general assembly voted approve plan new church year first priest father george spyridakis tenure father nicholas triandaffillou community served priest record show priest served community beginning father kanellos kanellopoulos father anthony n pappa joined community january addition clerical duty served religious consultant new church groundbreaking ceremony new church held december nine month later september volunteer painted assembly hall classroom finally december first liturgy held new service father pappa blessed room assembly hall church communion administered new church march highland park church sold byelorussian autocephalic orthodox church st mary zurovicy may new church consecrated community grew quickly outgrowing church building addition completed providing additional classroom meeting room space father john e constantine joined community left continue service u navy following fall father john theodosion joined community theodosions ordination priesthood held church father pappa served fifty year priest father john theodosion became proistamenos served community april may archimandrite alexander kile appointed new proistamenos served almost seven year march father nicholas pastrikos joined community saturday december bishopelect ioannis phocaea ordained archbishop elpidophoros america church st george piscataway new jersey statement newspaper national herald newly ordained bishop stressed experience history church descent holy spirit caused enormous tension point took half hour recover ordination part archbishop elpidophoros addressing bishopelect phocaea ioannis stated blessed happenstance found piscataway “in parish served first ordained priest” addressing present archbishop america stressed many may surprised learn phocaea coast asia minor center hellenic life thought twothousandfivehundred year ago part bishop ioannis thanked ecumenical patriarch bartholomew “under ministry elected holy synod holy diocese phocaea” also thanked archbishop america metropolitan gerasimos san francisco bishop ioannis phocaea protosyncellus metropolis san francisco continue perform duty assignment according canonical church institution assistant bishop archbishop elpidophoros america according office chancellor greek orthodox archdiocese america rev deacon simeon williams assigned saint george deacon simeon ordained october presence eminence bishop apostolos chancellor v rev father christophoros saint george offer convenient parking scarlet knight home game property riverview avenue also utilized parking includes tailgating catered food large group event church minute walk shi stadium st george volleyball girl basketball boy many year athletic director nick kambitsis volleyball coach john papanastasiou junior basketball coach yianni apostolakis senior basketball coach john lyssikatos junior basketball team player age thth grade head coach yianni apostolakis team led evangelo kambitsis george kostis manoli kostis three boy twoway player playing junior senior team player split time team inaugural twoway player chris vlahos dimitri hirschman currently two way player december junior team championship starting lineup evangelos e kambitsis kosta hantsoulis stamati hantsoulis george kostis manoli kostis senior basketball team player age – player thth grade head coach john lyssikatos followed assistant coach joe hirschman athletic director junior head coach nick kambitsis team captain dimitri hirschman team core four consists chris vlahos dimitri hirschman evangelos kambitsis younger cousin evangelo kambitsis december senior team championship lineup georgie papadakis evangelos e kambitsis chris vlahos dimitri hirschman marko hantsoulis twoway player player junior team eligible play senior team year old freshman high school inaugural twoway player chris vlahos dimitri hirschman although hirschman see court much vlahos impactful team nd place season – – season kosta hantsoulis manoli kostis evangelos e kambitsis markos hantsoulis two way player however kambitsis hantsoulis saw minute – season much changed two way player stayed hantsoulis eligible senior team full time additional support staff george hadjiloucas athletic trainer time period saint george senior team went winless season row chris vlahos era basketball brought nothing success st george basketball program – season st george basketball team second place goya south division falling short unable win goya state tournament following season team third place falling short making state tournament missing – season due coronavirus pandemic team built terrific season – setting look like deep run going playoff despite success core junior chris vlahos dimitri hirschman evangelos kambitsis andreas hadjiloucas bizos lost st barbaras tom river going senior season much expanded roster new prospect give team chance win class graduate reverend archamidrties nektarios cottros priest –present revered father anthony pappa former priest john lyssikatos president – basketball coach – –present george athanasopoulos president – –present toula karamrkos greek school principal detective paul stevens sunday school principal jim solomos beloved st george parishioner sunday school teacher john blazakis volunteer alter boy kosta janitor former janitor george hadjiloucas beloved goya advisor nick kambitsis athletic director jr basketball head coach sr basketball assistant coach katina kehayasbeloved choir director greek orthodox youth association america goya organized group fifty child aged thth grade meet monthly basis discus many ongoing activity throughout week include basketball volleyball game practice fall winter greek dance practice many additionally goya responsible hosting fundraising event yearly taverna night december raise money nonprofit organization well helping festival raise money church goya also yearly olympic competition church around new jersey stay monmouth university memorial day weekend compete track field volleyball soccer swimming soccer team championship led junior andreas hadjiloucas mvp award making gamewinning goal instituted asbury park late archbishop later ecumenical patriarch athenagoras yearold tradition blessing water κατάδυσις cross also known cross dive resumed sunday september faithful across metropolis nj joined archbishop elpidophoros america bishop apostolos medeia chancellor archimandrite christoforos oikonomidis clergy metropolis divine liturgy great auditorium ocean grove heading beach cross thrown water kosta hantsoulis junior boy chris vlahos senior boy saint george piscataway retrieved cross saint demetrios greek orthodox church jersey city new jersey official website