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an incoming tour operator based in Greece with 34 years experience in both, tours and holidays
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St. Nicholas Family Life Center of St. Louis Held the Blessing of the FoundationsSt. Nicholas Family Life Center of St. Louis Held the Blessing of the Foundations St. Louis…..If you want a measure of how anxious the parishioners of St. Nicholas in St. Louis are to begin using our new Family Life Center, consider this: more than 450 of them gathered recently for the new buildings first banquet, and the walls werent even finished. The concrete had been poured, though, and that was enough. Parishioners came to participate in the blessing of the new buildings foundation, celebrate the progress in the construction, and pray that it fulfills its potential to bring new opportunities for growth in faith and fellowship to our community. “Take a good look around, because the next time were all here, its not going to look like this,” Father Doug said in his remarks, noting the exposed structural beams, open sides and the muddy ground beyond the foundation. “As different as it looks today from what it did before, its going to look even more different when we come to celebrate the opening.” Father Doug Papulis, assisted by Father Michael Arbanas and Father Emmanuel Hatzidakis, performed the blessing ceremony. Before the ceremony, the St. Nicholas Dancers provided entertainment. Afterward, the Junior Choir sang hymns of praise to the Lord, as well as the Troparion of St. Nicholas. Everyone shared in a festive dinner, and the children enjoyed playing through the complex. The event was an ambitious undertaking, to say the least. Because the kitchen facilities at the Family Life Center are not finished, the food was prepared at St. Nicholas Church and transported to the site. The lack of space for parking on the site, due to the ongoing construction, required the use of two shuttle-buses that traveled between the Family Life Center and a nearby church. Despite all the challenges, though, the event was festive, the food was delicious, and everyone had a wonderful time. After dinner, they heard greetings from Nicky Antoniou, Parish Council President; Tom Whaley, Design Committee chairman; Leon Spanos, Capital Campaign chairman; and Leo Catsavis, Capital Campaign co-chairman, and Michael Ferretti, master of ceremonies for the event. Each one, in his or her own way, thanked the parishioners for their spiritual and financial support of the Family Life Center, and exhorted all those present to continue supporting the project. After the speeches, Nicky Antoniou, on behalf of the Parish Council, and Marilyn Jemas, the Philoptochos president, on her organizations behalf, each presented Father Doug with a check for $5,000 in honor of the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Although the groups intended for Father Doug and Presvytera Christina to use the money to travel to London, Father Doug formally presented the checks to Capital Campaign for the continued progress of the project. “Since we cant take the whole parish with us to London, we would rather see the money go to use here for the whole parish to enjoy,” Father Doug said. The State-of-the-Art Family Life Center is designed by Papadatos Partnership LLP Architects of New York City and Chiodini Associates of St. Louis are the Architects of Record. The Family Life Center will include a most unique authentic Byzantine Chapel which will tower over the entire complex. A two story atrium entrance will be the featured design element leading to the combination Banquet Facility and Gymnasium which has been designed in a very unusually manner. On the opposite side, Classrooms, Meeting Rooms and Offices have been designed. The second level will be open to the entrance atrium having the design ambience of a luminous jewel box. Special thanks to John Russon, the chairman of the organizing committee, all the members who helped in the effort to make the day so special: Christina Anastas, Nicky Antoniou, Demos Argyros, George Bude, Gus Catsavis, Adonis Chakides, Michael Doran, Michael and Georgia Ferretti, Christina Ginos, Jonathan Hartley, Noel and Marilynn Jemas, Georgia Johnson, Carol Kamburis, Bill Karides, Alexandra Kavourinos, Steve and Diana Ott, the Philoptochos Board, Peter Spanos, Kim Tarlas, Michael Tetradis, Demetrios Tsikalas, Ann and Kay Zotos, and George Zotos. Two Photographs Attached
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