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1909-1926
SS. Constantine and Helen is one of the oldest parishes in the Chicago Metropolitan area. Greek immigrants of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (established in 1897), suggested the organization of a branch to accomodate the South Side Greeks living in the Washington Park and Woodlawn areas of Chicago. The priests of Holy Trinity, Rev. Leon Pageas and Rev. Ambrose Mandilaris, alternately performed services in a rented hall at 63rd Street and Woodlawn Avenue on Chicago's South Side. The parish became its own entity at an organizational meeting on April 25, 1909 when approximately 350 persons voted to establish an independent parish dedicated to SS. Constantine and Helen. Church membership was initiated with the payment of twenty-five cent dues and temporary officers were elected. Prior to this meeting, property had been acquired at 61st Street and South Michigan Avenue. The first church building of the parish was erected on this site at an approximate cost of $30,000 and opened in October 1910. The new edifice was designed similar to a typical urban church in Greece with no pews or organ. The two-story dark brick structure and an English-type basement with a central dome and two smaller domes comprising the church steeples. The ground floor was devoted to classrooms; the first floor was the church proper; and the second floor had the church office and a special balcony for the women of the congregation - gynaikonitis, as was the custom in Greece. In 1910, the second oldest continuously operating Greek Orthodox parish day school was established. The school was named in honor of Adamantios Koraes, the intellectual father of the Greek War of Independence in 1821. The school became the focal point of the community preparing and transmitting the religious and cultural heritage to future generations. Greek was the only language of instruction until 1922. At this time, English was added to the curriculum as a language of instruction and public school accreditation was arranged. Rev. Ambrose Mandilaris served the parish for eleven of the seventeen years of this period. he was known as the "builder priest" of the first South Side Greek Church. As typical of a Greek immigrant parish, he brought the ministrations of a rural church emphasizing the sacramental elements of the parishioners and providing for the education of their children. Rev. Theodore Prussianos, Rev. Demetrios Vanikos and Rev. Mark E. Petrakis served as pastors the remainder of this church period, with Rev. Demetrios Rangos and Rev. Arsenuis Priakos serving as assistant pastors for a few years. The first Board of Trustees set the precedent for successfully making policy and dealing with the practical affairs of the church. Theodore G. Koumountzis served as the first parish president. He was followed by John Papanastasiou, Michael Davrantzis, Peter Metos, Nicholas Giannakopoulos, Niketas Nomikos, Constantine Georgakopoulos, James S. Stamos and Dr. Constantine Theodore. In 1923, Archbishop Alexander hosted a meeting at the parish of SS. Constantine and Helen in Chicago for the purpose of identifying and selecting candidates for the newly created sees of Boston and Chicago. After approval by the Holy Synod of Constantinople, Bishop-elect Philaretos was consecrated and enthroned as the first Bishop of Chicago in SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. He subsequently chose the church as his diocesan cathedral and the offices of the diocese were on the second floor of the church. As the community grew in size, it prospered and enlarged its scope of activities. An afternoon Greek school was established in 1923 for children attending public schools. Presvytera Stella Petrakis organized classes in Greek that would teach the Orthodox faith to all the children in the parish. This was the forerunner of the current Sunday School. In the early 1920's, the Young Ladies Hellenic Society "Nea Genea" was formally organized for young unmarried women. This group has since evolved into "Agia Paraskevi". St. Helen's Benevolent Society, the most prominent of the church auxiliaries, was oranized in 1924 for charitable and philanthropic work as well as an aid in church fund-raising efforts. Presvytera Stella Petrakis was the society's first president. This organization is known today as the St. Helen Women's Philoptochos. The early hours of Holy Monday April 26, 1926 brought the first church period to a close as the building was destroyed by fire. The church was a total loss. At great personal risk Rev. Petrakis entered the gutted building and was able to save three items, the antiminsion, chalice and Gospel. Through the generosity of the Episcopal diocese, Holy Week services were held at neighborhood churches. On Easter Sunday, despite their feeling of despair, the community received hope from the Prayer of Resurrection and the announcement that the church would be rebuilt on the same location. This article is adapted from the 90th Anniversary Commemorative Album “SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church Ninetieth Anniversary 1909-1999 With Faith With Love”
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