NEW YORK, NY – GNUSA
What a historic day Sunday, May 19, was for the parishioners of the Hellenic Community of St. Demetrios in Merrick, NY! His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros joined the faithful for the long -awaited groundbreaking ceremony of the “Constantine & Carol Cassis Center” and blessed the laying of the foundation.
“May 19th is the most significant event in the history of our Parish since the visit of His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and, before that, the grand opening of our Church in 1982: a historic day for the Community; a day to remember. It is an event that future generations will cherish”, said Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos, St. Demetrios’ presiding priest, expressing gratitude to His Eminence for the honor of his presence despite his hectic schedule. “Our children will remember May 19th and talk about it to their children and grandchildren. They will recall pushing the groundbreaking shovels into the ground so that our foundations are firm and based on the great mission the Center serves, which is to promote Orthodoxy and our culture for the years to come”, he added.
Earlier that day, His Eminence presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. Demetrios Church, joined in celebration by Fr. Elias Villis, Chancellor of the Direct Archdiocesan District [DAD], Fr. Nikiforos Fakinos, the parish’s presiding priest and Fr. Panagiotis Papanicolaou, along with Deacon Jeremiah Mandoras.
Following the Artoklasia offered by the community and the Trisagion officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros in memory of the victims of the Pontic Genocide, parishioners, school students, youth groups, organizations, benefactors, supporters, volunteers, and families gathered under a large white tent for the auspicious groundbreaking ceremony. Among the attendees were two distinguished benefactors, Elaine Cassimatis and Nick Boultadakis, whose generosity and dedication to the parish will be formally recognized during the upcoming fundraising gala on June 9th at The Sand Castle.
“This is OUR new edifice, and we should all be part of it—whether we commit a brick, a door, a classroom, or even the new Greek School,” said Fr. Nikiforos, emphasizing the inclusive and communal nature of the Constantine and Carol Cassis Center. “No gift is too small, especially when everyone contributes”. He highlighted the broad support from across the parish, noting that athletic teams, the Church and Greek School, philanthropic missions, the elderly, families, and youth will all gather to celebrate their shared heritage. To date, the parish has raised approximately $2.4 million toward the project’s realization.
According to the parish website the “Constantine and Carol Cassis Center” will be a 18,500 square -feet state-of-the art construction, including a multipurpose Gymnasium [Basketball, Volleyball and Futsal Court], locker rooms, food and drink stations, 11 large classrooms, 4 Offices, reception area, game room and the “Constantine and Carol Cassis Kafeneio”.
“This is not just a structure, it is the glue that binds and connects a community. Community and unity are intertwined to convey that we are all invited to work together and contribute for this worthy cause. One can donate a brick, another one a window, another one a classroom, another one an auditorium. We need the auditorium; we will not throw away the brick. We are fueled from the enthusiasm; but we need the action. It is a blessing to look back one day and narrate to the next generations how it all started. First it was a dream. But we were compelled to prove that we are not just dreamers: we are visionaries”, added Fr. Nikiforos.
