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'''===Early Years'''===
'''===Holy Trinity Undergoes Major Renovation'''===
'''===Repayment of Mortgage Loans'''===
'''===Father Lokis and His Attempt to Unite the Parishes in 1936'''===
'''===Father George Paulson'''===
'''===Father Anthony Kosturos'''===
'''===The Move to Brotherhood Way'''===
'''===Robert Andrews, Holy Trinity’s Iconographer'''===
'''===The Daisy Jerome Education Center'''===
'''===Mayor Christopher and the Christopher Center'''===
'''===Father Anthony’s Passing and his Legacy'''===
'''===Father Michael Pappas and his Departure'''===
'''===Holy Trinity’s Centennial Anniversary'''===
'''===The Pantocrator Project'''===
'''===Anthony Cherolis, Holy Trinity’s Master Candle Maker'''===
The history of When Holy Trinity would not be complete without mentioning Jim Paponis and Isadora Mitchell (Moukios)celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2004 Tony was awarded the medal of St. Paul. After his passing MrThere were over 600 people in attendance and he was given a standing ovation. Paponis donated half of his estate to The Holy Trinity community expressed how much they loved him and how much they appreciated all the things he had done for the other half to Nativity Church in Novatoparish over the past 60 years. Sadly, Tony passed away Sept 12, 2011. After her passing, MrsA [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks. Mitchell donated her estate including her home to Holy Trinitycom/gallery/displayimage. Her home is currently being used as php?album=53&pid=1442#top_display_media plaque] was put on the home for [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1441#top_display_media candle-making shed] honoring his life and contributions to the parish priestand the community established the Anthony George Cherolis Lifetime Achievement Award in his memory.
On March 3, 2008, [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=47 Father Aris Metrakos] was appointed presiding priest. He had been serving [http://www.holytrinitysc.com Holy Trinity Church, Columbia, South Carolina]. Father Metrakos celebrated his first Divine Liturgy on June 1, 2008. Mr. Jacob Saylor serves as the community’s Youth Director.
11:15, December 21, 2013 (PST)[[User:Jtlucas1000|Jtlucas1000]]
'''List The history of Priests'''Holy Trinity would not be complete without mentioning Jim Paponis and Isadora Mitchell (Moukios). After his passing Mr. Paponis donated half of his estate to Holy Trinity and the other half to Nativity Church in Novato. After her passing, Mrs. Mitchell donated her estate including her home to Holy Trinity. Her home is currently used as the home for the parish priest.
1. Rev. Fr. Constantine Tsapralis ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=51 biography] ) ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=16 photo album] ) , 1903 - 1908, 1909 - 1936List of Priests==
2*1. Rev. Fr. Gerontios Koutouzis Constantine Tsapralis ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=51 biography] ) ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimagethumbnails.php?album=30&pid=236#top_display_media 16 photoalbum] ) , 1907 1903 -1908, 1909 - 1936
5. Rev. Fr*6. Dorotheos Bourazanis Metropolitan [[Philaret ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=211 biography] Ioannides), 1919 - 1920 6. Metropolitan of Syros|Philaretos Ioannides ]] ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=242#top_display_media photo] ), 1920 -1921
7. Rev. Fr*8. George Sardounis Archbishop [[Athenagoras ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=243#top_display_media photo] Kavadas), 1921 - 1923, 1939 - 1940, 1943 8. Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain|Athenagoras Kavadas ]] ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=244#top_display_media photo] ), 1921 - 1927
10. Rev. Fr. Vasilios Lokis ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=215 biography] ), 1936 *11. Rev. Dionysios Demessianos ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=49 biography] ), 1936 - 1939 12. Rev. Fr. Amfilohios Sarantides ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=256#top_display_media photo] ), 1939 - 1940
14*15. Rev. Fr. Ambrosios Mandalaris John Petropoulos ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=247248#top_display_media photo] ), 1939 1943 - 19431947
(He later became the first priest of the Santa Barbara, CA Greek community) 15. Rev. Fr. John Petropoulos ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=248#top_display_media photo] ), 1943 - 1947 *16. Rev. Fr. Germanos Papanagiotou ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=1402#top_display_media photo] ), 1947 17. Rev. Fr. Benedictos Papagiankopoulos ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=254#top_display_media photo] ), 1947 - 1948
18. Rev. Fr. Arsenios Pallikaris ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=255#top_display_media photo] ), 1948 - 1949 *19. Rev. Fr. George Paulson (Pavloglou) ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=51 photo album] ), 1949 -1953 20. Rev. Fr. Gus Shepard ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=259#top_display_media photo] ), 1953 21. Rev. Fr. Father Constantine Bithos (Bithitsikis) ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=261#top_display_media photo] ), 1953 - 1955
22*20. Rev. Fr. Anthony Kosturos Gus Shepard ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/thumbnailsdisplayimage.php?album=10 30&pid=259#top_display_media photo album] ) ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/the-news?id=50 weekly radio recordings] ) ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=68 autobiography] ), 1955 - 20041953
23*22. MrRev. Michael Pappas Fr. Anthony Kosturos ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=10 photo album] ) ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/the-news?id=50 weekly radio recordings] ) ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=216 biography68 autobiography] ), 1955 - 2004 - 2007
About the author==Links==[http://www.holytrinitysf.org Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church] Official Website
''Jim Lucas is a local San Francisco Bay Area Greek community historian and the president of the Greek Historical Society of the San Francisco Bay Area, a [[Category:Churches]][[Category:USA Churches]][[Category:California non-profit 501c3 corporation based at Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco.''Churches]]
change reference for Fr. Mandalaris to second priest.
'''Holy Trinity Church''' is a church of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], [[Metropolis of San Francisco]]. Founded in 1904, it is the oldest Greek Orthodox Church west of the Mississippi River.
==History==
The history of the [http://www.holytrinitysf.org Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church] is linked to the history of the city of San Francisco.
The Orthodox faith has long had a presence in San Francisco with some records dating to 1857. Prior to the establishment of their own parish, Greeks worshipped and Greek priests often ministered to the Greek Orthodox faithful at the only Orthodox church in San Francisco, the Russian Orthodox church , founded in 1868. It wasn’t until 1892 1888 when the Hellenic Mutual Benevolent Society was formed that initiatives to establish a Greek Orthodox church, organize community events and respond to tragic events occurring in Greece got underway.
By the late 1880s, Greek immigration to California increased significantly: the San Francisco Call newspaper estimated that there were 2,000 Greeks living in the San Francisco at the turn of the century. Consequently, there became a need to establish a place of worship dedicated to the Greek Orthodox faith. In 1902, the Hellenic Mutual Benevolent Society responded to that need by undertaking plans to establish a Greek Orthodox Church in San Francisco. Their efforts succeeded. In April 1903, an election of Trustees was held, a priest was sent for, and land purchased on the corner of 7th and Cleveland Streets for $5,750 (final cost was increased to $6,000 to expand the lot by five feet). Construction began and by May 1903 the structure was completed( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1504#top_display_media See SF Chronicle photograph] ). After installing some simple furnishings and holding an election of officers, they now had a Greek Orthodox church in San Francisco.
The parish’s first priest, [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=51 Father Constantine Tsapralis], came to the United States from Sanga, Greece on May 19, 1903, and was later joined by his family - wife Eleni, son Basil, daughter Aphroditi and nephew Apostolos. Father Tsapralis’ priestly rank was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakellarios Sakellarios], an administrative title for someone who keeps financial records. He was paid $80 per month in gold coin for five years, the length of his contract. It was not uncommon and widely accepted in those days for priests to supplement their income by other means to support their families. Fr. Tsapralis was no exception. In addition to being a priest, he was the proprietor of two businesses – a [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/images/tsapralis_oregonian.pdf saloon] and a candy store. On December 25, 1903, he celebrated the first Divine Liturgy with his new parish and on March 23, 1904, Holy Trinity was incorporated, making it the oldest Greek Orthodox Church west of Chicago and the eighth oldest church within the present day Archdiocese.
In its early years, Holy Trinity functioned as a cathedral church where it was sometimes necessary for members of the clergy to travel to within California, Nevada and Arizona to perform sacraments; Fr. Tsapralis traveled as far away as Fresno by horse and buggy. These priests endured harsh conditions and by their very nature, were dedicated and energetic. They paved the way for those who followed as evidenced by early records of these sacraments recorded on sheets of paper which were later bound to create the church records as they exist today.
In 1906, Holy Trinity, along with much of San Francisco, was destroyed by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1906_San_Francisco_earthquake 1906 earthquake and fire]. The disaster necessitated the need to find an alternative location to celebrate Divine Liturgy until the parish could rebuild. The home of [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=5 Alexander Kosta], one of Holy Trinity's founders, was chosen in the interim. By fall, work had already begun on a second church building not far from where the original site was destroyed. The new church was completed in 1907 and a Greek language school, the first west of Chicago, was opened in 1912.
In 1908, two years after the great earthquake and fire, chaos erupted in the San Francisco Greek Orthodox community. The community experienced its first major schism and led to the founding of a second church. The schism started after a disagreement over parish council elections and the handling of money. It turned violent on July 12, 1908, when police were called to Holy Trinity. The feud resulted in Ioannis Kapsimalis (former parish council president and Greek Consul) leading a faction to start its own church, [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=72 St. John Prodromos]. Built on Rincon Hill (Stanly Place/Sterling Place), it included offices and a meeting hall named "Alexander the Great Meeting Hall." Father Tsapralis was hired as the first priest at St. John Prodromos. In turn, the Holy Trinity community hired [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=237#top_display_media Fr. Stefanos Macaronis] to succeed Father Tsapralis as the priest of their parish. Regardless of the historical consequences of the feud, the factions wouldn’t remain split for long. In December 1909, they resolved their differences: the property of St. John Prodromos was sold to Holy Trinity for $5 , Father Tsapralis was rehired by Holy Trinity and Fr. Macaronis moved was transferred to a parish in Oregon. From 1910 until the church on 7th Street was raised to install a meeting hall in 1922, this property served as the offices and meeting hall for the community. The Stanly Place property was sold in 1936 to the State of California to make room for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco%E2%80%93Oakland_Bay_Bridge San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge]. '''Greek Politics & the Churches'''
===Greek Politics & the Churches===
When conflict broke out on the Balkan Peninsula in 1912, the Hellenic Mutual Benevolent Society organized meetings at the Alexander the Great Meeting Hall mobilizing a response from the San Francisco Greek community. Many men who had immigrated to the United States boarded ships and went back to fight for Greece.
The division between Royalists and Venezelists was evident in many aspects of Greek community life. In San Francisco, the [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=18&pid=1289#top_display_media California Greek language newspaper] owned by [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=18&pid=219#top_display_media Anastasios Mountanos] became the Royalist newspaper and the [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=22&pid=304#top_display_media Prometheus Greek language newspaper] became the Venezelist newspaper. Holy Trinity became the Royalist church. In 1920, a group overwhelmingly Venizelist, broke away and began meeting to discuss the possibility of building another church. In June 1921, they purchased all the lots facing Pierce Street from Hayes to Fell Streets with the intent of building a cathedral church. They later built a small church, which they named [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=1 Saint Sophia Cathedral]. Father Philaretos Ioannides became their first priest.
In 1919, [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=211 Father Dorotheos Bourazanis] arrived in San Francisco to serve at Holy Trinity. His story is particularly interesting because his life was filled with one tragedy or setback after another. He was from Mani and he arrived in the United States in 1912 1913 with his mother Sophia to serve the spiritual needs of Greek coal miners in Utah. He came to the United States with his mother, Sophia Bourazanis. He was an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimandrite Archimandrite], a type of priest who has taken a vow of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibacy celibacy].
In 1914, Sophia Bourazanis was murdered in the family home ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/images/bourazanis_mother_12_3_1914.jpg news article] ). The murderer was brought to justice in 1915. Father Dorotheos lived in Utah a few more years but at the insistence of [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=31&pid=306#top_display_media Father Ioakim Malahias], the first priest of the Oakland community, he traveled west to San Francisco.
There is a common misunderstanding that the church property always bordered Cleveland & 7th Streets. Dr. Domenico A. Alberti, a dentist, owned a 75 x 25 foot lot on the corner of 7th and Cleveland streets. He purchased the lot with the intent of building a dentist office. (Currently this parcel is a small garden and 4 parking spaces). On Feb. 20, 1922, Dr. Alberti deeded this small parcel to the Holy Trinity community.
The parish began to emerge from its independent period with the arrival of Father John Petropoulos. With the arrival of Father George Paulson in 1949 the parish experienced a resurgence.
Father Anthony envisioned starting a Greek Orthodox parochial school that placed an emphasis on quality education and the Orthodox faith. In Sept. 1971, Holy Trinity Orthodox School opened ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1444#top_display_media see photograph] ). It was the only Orthodox K-8 school in Northern California(See 2007 school brochure, [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1459#top_display_media pg1], [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1460#top_display_media pg2]).
For decades Orthodox families from the San Francisco area brought their children to Holy Trinity Orthodox School for a quality education. One of the school’s primary benefactors was Mrs. Daisy Jerome. With her financial support, the school was able to attract more students and the best teachers. The Holy Trinity community voted to change the name of the school to the Holy Trinity Daisy Jerome Education Center in honor of Mrs. Jerome’s support over the years( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1507#top_display_media see photograph] ).
In later years, families began to move out of the San Francisco area primarily due to the cost of housing. As a result the student population decreased making it more difficult for the school to compete with similar institutions. The school was no longer making a profit. The community voted to close the school in 2008 after attendance had dwindled to 27 students. Currently, the classrooms are rented by another school.
On June 1, 2004, Father Anthony passed away from complications relating to a pulmonary embolism. His funeral was held Friday, June 4, 2004, at Holy Trinity. Metropolitan [[Anthony (Gergiannakis) of San Francisco|Anthony]] presided over the service. His funeral service was attended by several thousand people which included local politicians, dignitaries and members of the clergy.
His passing left a huge void. In the interim, [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=282#top_display_media Father James Adams] served as the presiding priest. In the weeks and months following his passing, parishioners began to express their ideas how Father Anthony’s memory should be honored. Over the next five years the parish and individual parishioners honored his memory by doing the following:
* John & Kathleen Bardis approached Father Michael Pappas with the desire to donate a mosaic icon of Father Anthony offering Holy Trinity Church to God. The Bardis family wanted to have the icon installed in the sanctuary. This concept was not approved by clergy. A compromise was reached where a mosaic icon would be created of Saint Anthony holding Holy Trinity Church and to have the icon installed in the foyer of the church. The icon was installed and attracts comments from visitors. Many visitors believe that the face of St. Anthony reminds them of Father Anthony( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1505#top_display_media see photograph] ).
* A committee was formed for the creation and installation of the Father Anthony Kosturos Memorial. A memorial plaque was installed in a garden near the entrance. On June 7, 2009, the memorial plaque was dedicated by the community ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=10&pid=1440#top_display_media see photograph] ).
* The parish voted to change the name of the meeting hall to the Father Anthony Kosturos Meeting Hall.
* The Kosturos family donated his vestments to the parish. The parish voted to mount the vestments in a display case outside the Father Anthony Kosturos Meeting Hall with a plaque( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1506#top_display_media see photograph] ).
* When the Pantocrator was installed, Robert Andrews created a mosaic tile of a portrait of Father Anthony plus several copies. The tile was installed near the right hand of Christ. Although the tile is difficult to see from the floor, it was a belief shared by many that he is in heaven among the righteous at the right hand of Christ.
A native of Wisconsin, Anthony Cherolis came to San Francisco after serving in World War II. He married and started a family. When his son suffered an injury that mangled his hand, he prayed to God and said: “If you heal my son I will devote my time to the church.” Tony’s son made a full recovery and Tony was true to his word.
From that moment Tony was a daily presence at Holy Trinity. When he retired he became a full time volunteer. He made all of the candles used in church services, decorated icons with flowers, served on the Parish Council, and called countless individuals getting donations for whatever Holy Trinity needed. He was known all over the San Francisco area. His life as an Orthodox Christian was the foundation of his life and his life exemplified selfless giving. A Bay Area news station, KTVU Channel 2, found out about Tony and decided to do a television segment on December 2, 2004 ( [http://www.youtube.com/user/sanfranciscogreeks#p/u/8/FHNCDX9y10U see video] ). When Holy Trinity celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2004 Tony was awarded the medal of St. Paul. There were over 600 people in attendance and he was given a standing ovation. The Holy Trinity community expressed how much they loved him and how much they appreciated all the things he had done for the parish over the past 60 years. Sadly, Tony passed away Sept 12, 2011. A [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1442#top_display_media plaque] was put on the [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=53&pid=1441#top_display_media candle-making shed] honoring his life and his contributions to the parish. '''Holy Trinity Today'''
===Holy Trinity Today===
On March 3, 2008, [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=47 Father Aris Metrakos] was appointed presiding priest. He had been serving [http://www.holytrinitysc.com Holy Trinity Church, Columbia, South Carolina]. Father Metrakos celebrated his first Divine Liturgy on June 8, 2008. Mr. Jacob Saylor serves as the community’s Youth Director.
*2. Rev. Fr. Gerontios Koutouzis ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=236#top_display_media photo] ) , 1907 -1908
(He later became the first priest of the Los Angeles community)
*3. Rev. Fr. Stefanos Macaronis ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=237#top_display_media photo] ), 1908 – 1909
(In 1909 the King of Greece awarded him the silver cross of the order of the chevalier and the Holy Savior).
*4. Bishop Kallistos Papageorgopoulos ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=238#top_display_media photo] ), 1910 - 1919
(He later became the first bishop of San Francisco in 1927)
*5. Rev. Fr. Dorotheos Bourazanis ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=211 biography] ), 1919 - 1920
(He later became the first priest of the St. Sophia/Annunciation community, the first bishop of the Chicago Diocese in 1922, and then Metropolitan of Syros)
*7. Rev. Fr. George Sardounis ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=243#top_display_media photo] ), 1921 - 1923, 1939 - 1940, 1943
(He later became rector of the Holy Cross Institute in Brookline, then Bishop of Boston, then auxiliary bishop the Archdiocese of America, then Metropolitan of Philadelphia. He then became Archbishop of Great Britain)
*9. Bishop Eirineos Kassimatis ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=245#top_display_media photo] ), 1927 - 1932
(He later became Bishop of Abydos)
*10. Rev. Fr. Vasilios Lokis ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=215 biography] ), 1936
*12. Rev. Fr. Amfilohios Sarantides ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=256#top_display_media photo] ), 1939 - 1940
*13. Rev. Fr. George Mystakides ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=252#top_display_media photo] ), 1940 - 1941
*14. Rev. Fr. Ambrosios Mandalaris ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=247#top_display_media photo] ), 1939 - 1943
(He later became the second priest of the Santa Barbara, CA Greek community)
*17. Rev. Fr. Benedictos Papagiankopoulos ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=254#top_display_media photo] ), 1947 - 1948
(He later became the first priest of the Byron Hot Springs, CA mission)
*18. Rev. Fr. Arsenios Pallikaris ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=255#top_display_media photo] ), 1948 - 1949
*21. Rev. Fr. Father Constantine Bithos (Bithitsikis) ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=30&pid=261#top_display_media photo] ), 1953 - 1955
*23. Mr. Michael Pappas ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=216 biography] ), 2004 - 2007
*24. Rev. Fr. Aris Metrakos ( [http://www.sanfranciscogreeks.com/index.php/historical-society?id=47 biography] ), June 8, 2008 - Present
About the author: Jim Lucas is the founding president of the Greek Historical Society of the San Francisco Bay Area and a local Greek community historian.
