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Athenagoras, now Patriarch of Constantinople, chanted the Holy Liturgy assisted by Rev. George Diodoredis. The church, completed in 1922, had waited twelve years for the coming of the ecclesiastical head of the Orthodox Church for the occasion. To even further commemorate the great day a tree was planted in the Ohio State House yard honoring the Greek-American boys of World War I. A picnic at Olentangy Park completed the day's festivities, which was also a pre-event of the opening of the llth National Convention of the Ahepa in Columbus.

On August 15, 1934, the first initiation of the Daughters of Penelope, the Ahepa auxiliary, was held at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel. Mrs. John Caronis served as the first president of Penelope Chapter Number 15.

The following August, 1935, Archimandrite Stephen Lavriotis arrived to serve the growing community and on Palm Sunday, March 1, 1936, he reorganized the Elpis Society into The Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society of the Annunciation Church. They were to help the sick and poor and do any philanthropy that was needed in the area.

Charter Board members elected on this day were:
President—Mrs. Peter Brown* Mrs. George Vayian Mrs. George Pappas Mrs. Michael Genoozis* Mrs. Tom Pathis Mrs. August Condas Mrs. John Duros Mrs. Peter Caronis Mrs. George C. Chakeres

 

Charter members of the Philoptochos Society of this date were:

Mrs. Nick Chakeres -------Mrs. James J. Chakeres*
Mrs. Anthony Zanetos -----Mrs. John Roumeliote
Mrs. Gus Zaglanis ----------Mrs. Louis Anast
Mrs. William Tornik --------Mrs. James Skufis
Mrs. Tom Genoozis ---------Mrs. John Prapas
Mrs. William Chakeres ----Mrs. Alex Bleas
Mrs. Tom Paul ---------------Mrs. Louis Stravrides
Mrs. Peter Skufis -----------Mrs. Theodore Kanatas
Mrs. Nick Coumanter ------Mrs. William Cannell
Mrs. Louis Chase -----------Mrs. Paul Deonesos
Mrs. Thomas Greenzalis-- Mrs. James Tertegas
Mrs. John Georgiton* -----Mrs. John Pappas
Mrs. James Demos ---------Mrs. Gus Vetel
Mrs. Peter Karres*

Under the leadership and guidance of Father Lavri- otis, the Philoptochos Society had an excellent beginning. in our community. On May 19, 1936, they celebrated Mother s Day for the first time by presenting a play. On May 28, the chapter honored Dr. C. H. Solomonides for his many charitable services to the community. The next month a bazaar and bingo were given and the first basket picnic was held at Franklin Park on July 30, 1936 The first Vasilopita was held on January 3, 1936, for the benefit of the Archdiocese Orphanage.

An interesting fact is that males joined the society in

One of the early Greek choirs is shown above in a picture taken on October 14, 1939. The Pastor, Archimandrite Stephen Laavriotis, is seated in the center of the first row

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