'I grew up in the community.' Greek Orthodox church in Centerville celebrates anniversary

Growing up the daughter of the proistamenos — the one who presides — of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Centerville, Sophia Sarhanis recalls going with her father to make calls on parishioners. Really, it was more like visiting family. To live within the folds of the church's Greek community was, and still is, to be always among family, even if not related by blood, or even culture.

"I remember being a little girl sitting in the back seat of the car when he would visit parishioners," Sarhanis said. "He would make a point to stop and visit everyone."

That kind of connection among members of the parish, scattered from Falmouth to Provincetown, continues today. Getting together is always a celebration of faith and community. This year, the parishioners have extra cause for celebration: it's the church's 75th anniversary.

The community is planning an anniversary event on Aug. 24. But first the church members are planning another special event highlighting something else that often brings community members together — food. On July 12, from 4-10 p.m., and July 13, noon to 11 p.m., the church is hosting a Greek food fest at the church at 1130 Falmouth Road.

September will bring everyone together once again for St. George's 15th annual Charity Golf Classic at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee — an event that's raised $227,440 over the last 14 years for the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund, formerly known as the Needy Fund.

A proud legacy

Earlier this month, 14 parishioners and their current priest, the Rev. Timothy Curren, walked three miles from their first church location at 10 Louis St. in Hyannis to their present sanctuary, raising money through sponsorships for the August anniversary celebration while also honoring the church's past and present.

The continuing legacy is something that church members are proud of. The church and its people were a central part of their upbringing, while others joined later — some, attracted to Orthodoxy, have found new faith and new family at St. George's.

"This community raised me," said Sarhanis, who is chairing the 75th anniversary committee. "I have fond memories of so many of the parishioners."

'I grew up in the community'

So does the Parish Council Executive Board President Nik Atsalis.

"I grew up in the community. I was baptized in the church. I've been here, as Sophia has been, through three priests. Like for Sophia, this community raised me along with my parents and my five older brothers," he said.

Atsalis is also following in the footsteps of his great-uncle, James Pazakis, an original executive board president.

"Now, here we are 75 years later, and I'm the president of the parish council, and I'm sitting alongside Sophia, whose father baptized me," he said.

The church's first priest

Sarhanis' father, the Rev. Spyros Mourikis, was St. George's first priest. Hailing from the Greek island of Corfu, he came to the United States a few years after the end of World War II. Bishop of Boston Athenagoras Cavadas, a leader within the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston church and dean of the seminary, had sent out a call to the homeland for potential theologians to come and get ordained so they could tend to faith communities forming among Greek Orthodox immigrants here.

"My father helped during the war to protect the villagers (in Greece).  His family did not want him to leave, being one of 11 children," Sarhanis said, "but his love for his faith, raised by two very faithful parents, was so evident while sheltering, protecting and feeding his fellow islanders that they named him PaPa before he was ever invited on scholarship to come to the U.S."

The first Greek immigrants began to arrive on Cape Cod around 1910 to 1918, many settling in Barnstable, Atsalis said. As their numbers grew, so did their desire to form an official faith community. By the late 1940s, they were meeting informally at what was then the grange hall on Lewis Street, and Bishop Cavadas would conduct services. He's the one who encouraged formation of the Cape Cod faith community.

St. George's was officially organized on Jan. 21, 1949, under the leadership of Sarhanis' father, who served until June 30, 1991.

A new church for a growing community

The community continued to grow and by 1970 the need for a larger church was becoming evident. The parishioners looked to a piece of land — the current location —the church had bought in 1954 for $3,750. It was originally intended for a Greek Orthodox cemetery, but that plan was shelved when the town expanded the Mosswood Cemetery in Cotuit and made plots available to all residents, Atsalis said.

In 1978, a special assembly approved construction of a new church, with a $1 million budget. Atsalis remembers the groundbreaking the next year, on June 3, 1979, almost as if it was yesterday. He was an altar boy at the time.

"It was a hot, humid day," he said. "The altar boys had to stand out there in their robes" — an uncomfortable circumstance because "the robes were heavy and we had to get dressed up," so underneath they were in suits and ties.

"His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos was here officiating," said Sarhanis. "It was a big occasion."

Construction began in October 1980. The thyranoixia, or "opening of the church doors," took place less than a year later, in June 1981.

Embracing diversity

Today, the church has 210 stewards, which refers to its members who contribute their time, talent and financial support.

"Stewards can be individuals or families," Atsalis explained. "Most of the 210 are families."

The members come from all parts of the Cape, he said. They also represent more than just the Greek culture, which is another point of pride.

Many Eastern Orthodox members are from Romania and Bulgaria, said Sarhanis. It's a natural evolution and an easy fit for the church since the core of the faith is Orthodoxy, she said.

"It's very interesting to see what has happened in all these years," she said.

Atsalis agreed. At St. George's, he said, "it doesn't matter your nationality. It's no longer just Greeks. It's become kind of like a melting pot."

Heather McCarron can be reached at hmccarron@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: St. George's church in Centerville turns 75. How did it get started?