Memoirs of Peter Boudoures Chapter 25 Fr. Lokis Arrives at Holy Trinity

Fr. Basil Lokis

The Holy Trinity on Seventh Street near Folsom was much smaller and was the older of the two churches. Their Board of trustees decided that they were having financial difficulties because old Father Tsapralis, who presided there for many years, was unable to increase the attendance. The Board decided that they were in need of a new priest. Fortunately, they were smart and lucky enough to secure the services of Father Basil Lokis. He was a graduate of the Theological School of Halkis, which is located on one of the Princess Islands near Istanbul. Father Lokis was the head priest at the St. Spiridon Church in Washington Heights, New York. He consented to be transferred from New York to San Francisco.

Almost from the first day he arrived and began to preach, the church was filled to capacity. He was one of the finest speakers that I have ever heard up to that time, and I have yet to hear anyone surpass him. He had a pleasant personality; he was a hard worker and he was progressive.

Shortly after his arrival he came to the Maison Paul with one or two of his parishioners and asked to meet me. I was delighted to meet him and get to know him. He was electrifying. You couldn't help but like listening to him. When he wanted to talk church affairs with me I told him that I belonged to the St. Sophia Church. I said that we had all we could do to raise money to either buy back the church building or to find another one. I explained that I didn't know what I could do for his church; that I wasn't that smart or that big or that rich. I made it clear that I had reached the point where I could not do much more.