FOOD FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS

How about Dinner together on October 23rd? Korinthias Center, Cocktails at 6pm and dinner at 7pm. Fondly thought of as a relaxing rehash night - good for some laughs and maybe even a few tears! See You There!

A TASTE OF GREECE - FESTIVAL 2003

San Francisco’s only Greek Festival, A Taste of Greece, held September 19-21, is now a memory. It was a success in every way, in spite of the unexpectedly hot weather, a few of our key festival personnel getting sick, and one or two other glitches. It was successful precisely because it brought people together. People who worked together (at times, for 12-hour shifts!). People who enjoyed one another’s company. It fostered fellowship. It brought our neighbors in, to see what we’re all about, to celebrate with us, and to taste our food...arguably the best Greek food anywhere!!! (We’re not just saying that; this was heard over and over again, both by our own parishioners and by visitors. And we tend to believe them. Kitchen people: your hard work paid off!). Last but not least, the Festival also raised some much-needed funds for the church. How much? John Kallas and Mike Misthos are still working on the figures. Paying bills, collecting tabs. You know. But, in round figures, the three days brought in about $125,000. Add to that the Souvenir Book proceeds, raffle money, and pre-sales, as well as payments received after the festival. Minus the expenses...food, parking, security, rentals, etc. The preliminary bottom line is about $10,000 less than last year. But then we didn’t have the advertising expense this year. So, who knows? A report will be available for the October Parish Council meeting and the November 19 Parish Assembly.

Meanwhile, the organizers are meeting to consider the festival itself and to announce next year’s festival dates. In considering the festival, we need to ask, what is it that we expect of our festival, in terms of size and scope? What are its strengths and what are its limitations? How can it continue to be a meaningful source of incme to the church, within the context of our location, parking situation, future building plans, and the like? You know, all the usual questions. Meanwhile, everyone who participated, by volunteering, by financially supporting it, by attending it, should be commended for a job beautifully done. Congratulations to all of you. And, no less to those who shouldered the biggest burden, our festival Co-chairs, Tessie Obester and Jim Dariotes.

Now, then, save the date: We will hold a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, October 23rd (Feast of St. Iakovos, Brother of the Lord). 6:00 cocktails, 7:00 Dinner. This invitation is extended to all volunteers who played a key part in making this year's festival a success, before, during and after the festival. A sincere thank you and words of appreciation are to be extended to all that helped. You know who you are. We look forward to seeing you on the 23rd.

GOD SPEED TO JIM DARIOTES

As most of us know by now, Jim Dariotes has accepted a position with the Ahepa Housing Management Corporation, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, effective October 1. Accordingly, he resigned his position as President of the Annunciation Cathedral Parish Council, as District Governor for the Order of Ahepa, and as a member of the Metropolitan Council. His most recent undertaking was that of co-chair of this year’s Festival, along with Tessie Obester. His family and friends at the Annunciation certainly will miss him. We thank him for his exemplary stewardship to our parish and wish him well in his new assignment. Who knows? God works in ways that are ultimately mysterious to us. Perhaps Jim’s going to work for this management group, which is responsible for the many hundred homes for seniors built throughout the country, will one day result in similar housing in the Bay Area. Time will tell.

IOCC Celebration Welcoming Archbiship Demetrios

The IOCC Event, “Remembering Home,” will take place this year, at the Annunciation Cathedral on Sunday, November 23rd. Elsewhere in this issue of the Herald is a full-page flyer, giving particulars relative to the event. Of note is that, this year, the speaker will be His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of America. Our own Pat Aleck chair for this event, which we expect to be a sell-out.

We would, therefore, encourage you to reserve early, and to avail yourselves of the opportunity to hear His Eminence and support the philanthropic work of the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities).

September 7th, by all accounts, was a magnificent day. By honoring Effie and Andy Vellis, we really honored ourselves. The Sunday School of the Annunciation Cathedral would like to thank the following donors, including students, parents, and other members of the community, for the generous donations (over and above the price of the ticket) made at the Vellis appreciation luncheon.

Final tabulations are being made and a donation to the Building Fund (estimated to be about $5,000) will be forthcoming:

2003 CHRISTMAS CARD

Last year, you will recall, we issued a wonderful Christmas card, thanks to a team of volunteers who were on hand for several Sundays prior to Christmas to jot your name down. We are asking for a team of volunteers again this year, to assist with this effort. If you are so inclined, please contact Father Stephen, at 415 864-8000. The way we go about it this year may be a little different. (This will all be clarified at the Parish Council meeting on October 15.).

However, we will still come up with a community Christmas card, which we hope will include all our parishioners’ names and which will be sent to parishioners and friends of the Cathedral early in December.

RECENT SERVICES AT THE CATHEDRAL

Baptism
Irene, daughter of Dimitrios Katakis and Stella Pappis, was baptized on August 31. Her Godmother is Eftihia Manzourani.

Na Mas Zisi!

Marriage
The marriage of Mark George Vilcheck and Deanna Marie Rozgay was blessed on September 6. Their sponsor is Athanasios Agapiades.

Na Mas Zisoun!

Funerals
Kolia Riste, who fell asleep in the Lord on September 3, was buried September 8. Next of kin is his wife, Helen Riste.

Stevenson Nicholas Demetrak, who fell asleep in the Lord on September 9, was buried September 12. Next of kin are his wife, Esther Stella Karabats, son and daughter, and grandchildren.

Aionia afton i mnimi! - May their memory be eternal!

PARISH ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 19

As reported in the June-July issue of the Herald, the second Parish Assembly for 2003 will be held on Wednesday, November 19. In addition to various financial reports, the Assembly will hear the report of the Nominating Committee, consisting of Anne Mountanos, Pat Destein, Helen Markanton, Maria Georgiou and Annette Chiappari, which will present a slate of candidates for Parish Council for 2004-2005. Parishioners will have the opportunity to vote for eight members, for a two-year term.

The Board of Elections, which will prepare the ballots and oversee the elections, to be held December 14, is comprised of Andrew Vellis, Ted Leventis, and Philip Chiappari.

ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY RETREAT

This retreat will be held at the St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center, October 31-November 2. It is open to all, women and men, young and old. Principles, Problems and Readings in spiritual direction -- will be the subject of the retreat, which will be directed by the Reverend Dr. John Chryssavgis.

Deacon Chryssavgis studied theology in Athens and at Oxford. He has served as professor of theology at St. Andrew's Theological College in Sydney and at Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston. His most recent publications include Soul Mending: The Art of Spiritual Direction (Holy Cross Press, 2000), In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (World Wisdom Books, 2002), and Letters from the Desert: A Selection from Barsanuphius and John (St. Vladimir’s Press, 2003).

The cost of $130 per person, $220 per couple, includes meals. For reservations and additional information, please call the Ranch, at (559) 338-2103

ICONOGRAPHY IN WORD AND IN PAINTING: A SINGULAR EVENT

Hosted by Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco and the Metropolitan Philoptochos Society, you are cordially invited to an evening program honoring Jaroslav Pelikan, Sterling Professor Emeritus of History and Theological Scholar at Yale University at a National Lecture Series. The event will be held at the Annunciation Cathedral Saturday, October 18, 4 to 7 p.m. The evening’s program consists of a champagne reception, with wine tasting and heavy hors d’oeuvres, an exhibition on Byzantine Iconography, specifically, the unveiling of the new icons of Michalis Vasilakis, and a lecture by Speros Vryonis, Jr. on the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople and its relations to the state. The donation is $25 per person, rsvp by October 10, 415 431-2600 or 415 753-3075.

THE CRITICAL STATE OF PARKING

To date, we have been fortunate when it came to parking. For one, San Francisco Toyota, which rented the parking lot behind the Cathedral, along Stevenson Street, used to permit us to use their lot on a space-available basis, at no cost. For another, we were able to park cars in the Armory, located at 14th and Mission Streets, during the Food Festival.

When San Francisco Toyota vacated, about a year ago, S & C Ford, which owns the lot, continued to permit us to park in the lot, but for a $600 per diem charge. Therefore, we were able to accommodate about 120 additional cars. (Our own lot accommodates about 70 cars.) Several months ago, however, S & C informed us they are using their lot for their own purposes; therefore, the lot is no longer available to us. This leaves us with only our own lot for parking. Undoubtedly, this limited parking places limitations on the number and the size of events we can hold in our facility. We can no longer hold two events simultaneously. We must also limit the size of the event we hold, whether it be in our chapel, the classrooms, or in the fellowship hall. We must, among other things, hold to a two-hour time lapse when scheduling sacraments, both to enable those leaving the earlier sacrament to leave and to permit those coming for the next sacrament to park their cars.

At the same time,we are exploring other parking venues. For the Festival, for example, we were able to use the armory for parking. (Thanks to California Parking, who obtained the armory for us, and who did a superb job of valeting for those three days.) However, who knows about next year? And what are we going to do for large events, like the upcoming IOCC event in November and the Crab Feed in January.) In any case, we are generally agreed that, in order to proceed with building anything in Phase II, we have to be able to park a minimum of 150 cars on site. This means three levels of parking below grade, if we build a church on what is now the parking lot, or three levels of below grade/above grade parking, if we elect to reconfigure the chapel. Meanwhile, we are also looking into acquiring contiguous parcels.

Until the parking situation is resolved, and it may take several years before it is resolved, we must ask for our parishioners’ assistance and cooperation, including the utilization of car pooling, and parking within the white lines. If you are the first to park in the tandem parking places, pull all the way in. And, if you are the second to park in the tandem parking places, leave your key with the attendant or, at the very least, be conscious about moving your car as soon as church lets out, so as to permit the person in front of you the opportunity to pull out. Being sensitive to one another’s needs will be very much appreciated by all.

SOIL TESTING RESULTS IN: WHAT NEXT?

Aldine / Globe Soil Engineers is the firm which the Cathedral has engaged, at a cost of $3,800, to conduct the soils analysis and to prepare a Soil/Geotechnical Report for Phase II options, including laboratory testing to assess engineering and mechanical properties of soil samples, geotechnical engineering design guidelines for appropriate foundation and retaining wall types and depths, and recommendations for driveway and garage/parking designs. The soils report, in other words, will dictate what kind of a structure we can build on the parking lot and how the architects should design that structure. Well, the soils analysis report is in. One copy has been prepared for the architects; another has been prepared for the Cathedral. Simply put, we can build the kind of structure envisioned in the model, that is, a church with below-grade parking. Currently, the architects are analyzing the costs for the building.

Meanwhile, the Parish Council will consider the report at its meeting of October 15, and will formulate plans to continue the Phase II project. This project, along with stewardship, will become the focus of our Parish Council and, in turn, of our parish, for the immediate future.

PHILOPTOCHOS FALL CONFERENCE

The annual Metropolis Philoptochos Conference, which is mandatory for chapter presidents and treasurers, is being held at St. Nicholas Ranch Conference & Retreat Center Friday, October 24th, Saturday, October 25th, and Sunday, October 26th for Divine Liturgy and breakfast. The conference is open to all Philoptochos members. The schedule, in addition to regular conference meetings, includes forums for open discussion. Please notify the Metropolis Philoptochos office at 415/431-2600 if you will be attending.

They will provide you with Conference Registration forms. Registration fee is $140.00.

IOCC

Supporting IOCC (www.iocc.org) through a workplace giving campaign helps to buy nutritious lunches for school children, rebuild homes for refugees, and provide job training for widowed moms. For just pennies a day, your pledge to IOCC through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) or United Way can make a real difference for children and families affected by poverty, war and natural disasters. Use Workplace Giving Code #0348 or write to: International Orthodox Christian Charities, PO Box 630225, Baltimore, MD 21263-0225.

SPECIAL SCREENING “THE PIONEERS: 1900-1942”

The Hellenic American Professional Society of No. Calif, together with SF State University Modern Greek Studies Foundation are proud to announce the screening of “The Greeks of Southern California - Through the Century: The Pioneers 1900-1942” on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at the Annunciation Cathedral at 3:00 pm, with a reception to follow the showing. Admission is $10.00 to assist in defraying expenses.

The film premiered at 20th Century Fox and highlights the achievements and traditions of the Greek community. Hosted and narrated by Olympia Dukakis along with John Kapelos, it is the story of all Greeks that came to America seeking a better life.

The documentary was produced by the Greek Heritage Society of Southern California (GHS). For further information call George Mattis at (415)566-4308 or Modern Greek Studies at (415)338-1892.

BUILDING UP THE HOUSE: SEMINAR FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS

A seminar for religious educators of our Metropolis will take place October 3-5, 2003, at the St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center. The keynote presentation, “Bring Faith to Life, Life to Faith,” will be offered by Dr. Anton Vrame, Director of the PAOI (Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute), Berkeley, CA. The cost for the entire weekend, including 2 nights lodging, all meals and workshop materials, is $145. (about half this amount for a one-night’s stay). For more information, please call Fr. Paul Schroeder, Director of St. Nicholas Ranch, at 449 338-2103 or Eve Tibbs, the Metropolis Religious Education Chair, at 714 692-3325.

THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY

Beginning Thursday, October 2, and every Thursday thereafter, except for Thanksgiving, until December 11, Father Gregory will conduct a Bible Study in the second floor conference room, beginning at 7 p.m. The Bible Study is open to all.

SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY

Beginning Sunday, September 28, and every Sunday thereafter, Marina Taylor will conduct a Bible Study (for the most part, in Greek) in the second floor conference room. The Bible Study is open to all.

October 2003 Herald
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.