OUR -CHURCH HISTORY 
• • • 
OLD CHURCH 
O
HE history of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Youngstown, Ohio, 
is one full of reminiscences. Because of liberal immigration laws in 
the early twentieth century, we find a massive influx of Greeks to 
all parts of the United States. The history of the Greeks in Youngs 
town perhaps refl ect ed or simulated the history of Greeks throughout 
the United States. Men and women left their poor: homeland of 
Greece, desirous of the opportunity to come to America to improve their economic 
status, to educate their families, and to enrich their particular Grecian villages 
through their philanthropic gifts. Greeks in America initially offered consider 
able resistance however to assimilation into American habits and social structures. 
Thusly, th e first generation Greek settlers banned together to work, to socialize, 
to promote Hellenism, and to worship according to the canons of The Greek 
Orthpdox Church. America proved indeed a great light and hope, wherein mothers 
found. a freedom not known in their native land of Greece - free from want, 
cooking meals with regularity, planning cultura l development for their children, 
dressing in their Sunday finery, organizing the Church , etc. 
The Hellenic community was organized in Youngstown, in December 1915, 
in a meeting of Greek immigrants in a storeroom on West Federal Street . Church 
services were held regularly at the downtown YMCA (Young Men's Christian As-
sociation) until 1916 when the first Greek Orthodox Church, St. John, was erected 
on West Woodland Avenue. The turbulent years, 1915-1930, in Greece undoubtedly 
were responsible for the factionalism and division of the Hellenic community 
that was established in Mahoning County. Thusly, on May 2, 1919, Articles of In 
corporation were prepared to create the separate community of St. Nicholas, 
bearing the signatures of Messrs. Christ Antarakis, Demetrios Cassis, Pericies 
Chengelis, Spyros Chengelis, John Hondrogian, Stefanos Johnson, and Vasilios 
Zoyes. On May 5, 1919, the charter was issued by The State of Ohio, formally 
establishing The St. Nicholas Greek Eastern Orthodox Church of Youngstown, 
Ohio. A vacated Welsh Church was immediately purchased , on the present site, 
at 220 North Walnut Street, to become the original St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox 
Church. 
To fully comprehend this OrIgm of local Churches, one must again refer to 
the national scene. !3etween 1900 and 1922, over sixty percent of our pre;?ent 
Greek Orthodox parIsh structures were erected in the United States without 
authorized leadership! It was not until 1922 that The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese 
of North and South America was incorporated and duly recognized. The turbulent 
political events in Greece divided Greeks throughout the Americas. The modern 
and organized Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas emerges from the adminis 
tration of then Archbishop Athenagoras I during the period 1931 - 1948 (where 
after t~e Archb.ishop was elected and elevated as His Holiness, Athenagoras I, 
Ecumemcal PatrIarch of Constantinople). The impact of factionalism was certainly 
felt at St. Nicholas, for records show that in less than the two-year period of 
1921 - 1922, four different priests served the parish of St. Nicholas! 
Following the early 1920's, the years were marked by a difficult and decaying 
national economy. The people of St. Nicholas prayed together - well-knit, co 
operative, dedicated and productive. During these later years however, little 
notice of the community appeared in local newspapers. 
Occasionally, readers found articles as the following: (May 11, 1919) "Greeks 
Clash in Mat Sport (Jim Londos vs. George Vassill, at Chelekis Hall, Youngstown, 
Ohio)." ... ; also, (March 24, 1929) "Greeks in City to Celebrate Independence 
Day, ... Under the leadership of Constantine Economus, the local chapter (Lincoln 
Chapter No. 89) of Ahepa (American Hellenic Education and Progressive Asso 
ciation) , national Greek lodge, will provide a banquet on the night of March 31 
at Central Auditorium .... " One of the earliest notices or listings of Church 
Services or activities is r ecalled h erein (from the edition of Saturday, Jan. 18,1930) : 
"~t. Nicholas-22~ N. W alnut ~t.; Pasto~, Rev. D. Cassis; Bible school supt., 
MIss X. Gorra; Director of mUSIC, Mr. Nicholas Cassis; Bible School 10 a.m.' 
!florning servic~s 11:30; Subject, "Jesus and Zaccheus"; Young people's meet~ 
mg 4 p.m.; ChOIr practice every W ednesday 6:30 p.m.; Young people's orchestra 
practice every Thursday 6:30 p.m." 
During the 1930's and 1940's, the youth of the parish were indeed fortunate 
to receive instruction in Greek language and culture from the master teacher Mrs. 
?Canthipi Karavaras. T~e community began to prosper and expand, until' early 
m 1955 when Campbelhtes departed to found the Archangel Michael Church. In 
January 1955, parish councilmen from St. John and from St. Nicholas met to 
(Continued) 
Pas_ Eigl UQ1J, 
1st Leyel 2nd Leyel 
3rd Leyel 
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES \~74-
4th Leyel 5th Leyel 
6th Leyel 
plan a merging of congregations and to form a United Hellenic Community. 
Unfortunately the plans were set aside, due to the lack of agreement on various 
issues, and therefore these parishes remain separate entities. 
During the late 1950's, the St. Nicholas Church was in dire need of main 
tenance and repair. With a segment of the Church property condemned by The 
City Health Department, a pulling-together, a union of membership oc~urred to 
dream for and to plan for a new structure. Under the strong leadershIp of Fr. 
George J. Ha djis, Parish Priest, and of Parish Council Presidents, Messrs. Th.eodore 
Baxevandes Theodore Chengelis, Nicholas Deniakis, Gust Kolitsos, and NICholas 
Masters th~ Building Fund drive proved a smashing success. Under the superb 
directio~ of the Building Fund Chairman, Mr. Harry Meshel, in excess of $200,000 
was raised, from contributions and pledges, in a relatively short period of time. 
Architects Boucherle Hanahan, and Strollo were consulted to plan the new (and 
presently existing) ~tructures, within a two-phase program -constr~cting th~ 
new social hall, followed by constructi:m of the new Church. Damel Terran 
and Sons, building contractors, presented the acceptable bid to construct the new 
Church. Ground-breaking ceremonies were held in 1958, and the new Church 
complex completed in 1960 - a dream fully-realized. 
The spirit of our Patron Saint, Saint Nicholas, remain.s alive through01:lt. the 
parish. The dreams of the f~JUnding parents truly. rE:allzed, as !he. religIOus, 
educational, social, and profeSSIOnal levels of ~he parishIOners. steadIly Improv~d. 
Many children of St. Nicholas have matured mto successful lives, as commumt.y 
and governmental leaders, business people, educators, attorneys, .doct~rs of medI 
cine, priests, and other significant professional careers. Mr. MeletIOS Dlacandreaou, 
a Youngstown resident from 1920 until 1938, was the first and only member of 
St. Nicholas to be named as Bishop, in 1964, as The Titular Bishop of Arestie:s, 
and assigned to the South American diocese. Further talent was revealed In 
that, during the sesqui-centennial (150th year) celebration of The City of Youngs 
town, which took place over the five-day period, Sept. 26-30, 1953, the most 
beautiful float in the parade was the "Cradle of Civilization" entered by the 
Greek Community - St. Nicholas, St. John, and Lincoln Chapter No. 89, Order 
of AHEPA. The lovely daughters of the Greek community were costumed as 
maidens representative of themes as religion, liberty, democracy, philosophy, and 
the arts. Also, thanks to the efforts and actions of local Hellenes and supporters, 
the Greek Orthodox religion was declared as the fourth major faith in the state 
of Ohio, in 1956. 
Presently, the membership of St. Nicholas eXCeeds three hundred members, 
active, strong and productive, with a total enrollment of 120 in Greek school 
and Sunday School classes combined, a nd with an annual operating budget of 
$60,000. After more than a half century of operation and service, with m a rked 
success in its trials against ma n a nd time, the new St. Nicholas Church and 
complex was Consecrated on September 8, 1974, under the spiritual leadership 
of Fr. George Kostan. 
The Consecration preparations were elaborate - extensive committee struc 
tures renovations to physical plant, receptions, etc. - capably directed by Mr. 
Willi~m G. Glaros, General Chairman, and co-chairpersons, Mrs. Mamie Coutris, 
Mr. Gregory Demetri, Mrs. Bessie Mageros, and Mr. Stephen Niarhos. The mem 
bers of the Parish Council, assisted by parishioners, under the superb efforts of 
Mr. Glaros, of Mr. Edward Mayorga, chairman of the Building Committee, and 
of Mr. Niarhos, chairman of the Banquet Committee, labored tirelessly to complete 
the preparations. The Holy Service of Consecration was co-celebrated by the 
great spiritual leadership and hierarch y of The Greek Orthodox Church: His 
Eminence, Archbishop Iakovo~; His Grace, Bishop Gerasimos; Deacon , Fr. Methodius 
Tournas; Fr. George Kostan, parish priest; Fr. George Hadjis, of Huntington Beach, 
California, past parish priest; Fr. John Alexandrou, pastor of St. John Greek 
Orthodox Church; and other invited Orthodox clergy. The climax of the Con-
sec ration Banquet, held at the St. Nicholas Social Hall, was indeed an affa.ir of 
celebration and Christian love, with an address by His Eminence, ArchbIshop 
Iakovos. Distinguished guests, sharing in the joyous celebration, included: His 
Eminence, Archbishop Iakovos, Primate of The Greek Orthodox Church of North 
and South America; His Grace, Bishop Gerasimos, Titular Bishop of Abydos, 
Sixth Archdiocese District; His Excellency, The Most Reverend James W. Malone, 
Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown; Mr. Stanley Engel, Director, 
Jewish Federation of Youngstown; Rev. Richard D. Speicher, representing The 
Youngstown Council of Churches; Rev. Fr. George J. Kostan, Pastor, St. Nicholas 
Greek Orthodox Church; Rev. Fr. John Alexandrou, Pastor, St. John GJ:eek Ortho 
dox Church, and representative of The Youngstown Clergy Association; The Very 
Rev. Fr. George J. Hadjis, Huntington Beach, California, past Parish Priest of 
St. Nicholas; The Deacon or Aide to The Archbishop, Fr. Methodius Tournas; Mr. 
William G. Glaros, Vice President of Administrative Affairs at St. Nicholas, and 
General Chairman of The Consecration Executive Committee; Mr. Gus Mavrigian, 
President of The Parish Council of St. Nicholas; Mrs. Bessie Mageros, President 
of The Philoptochos Society of St. Nicholas; The Honorable State Senator Harry 
Meshel, Banquet Toastmaster, and representative of The Governor of the State 
of Ohio; The Honorable Charles J. Carney, United States Congressman, 19th District; 
The Honorable Emanuel Catsoules, City of Youngstown Councilman, Third Ward, 
and representative of the Mayor of The City of Youngstown; and also pianist Mrs. 
Diane Anastasiades, soprano Mrs. Mary Demetri, and baritone Dr. Nicholas Pappas, 
who presented musical selections with excellence. 
The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Youngstown, Ohio, has now been 
baptized, anointed, sanctified, and dedicated to God for eternal use as an Orthodox 
Christian House of Worship. 
NEW CHURCH 
.page P JiIietcE4i 
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PARISH 
PRIESTS 
1919 to ~ \ <1)~ 1,. 
Rev. Nicholas HADJIVASILIOU ............................ 1919 
Rev. Louis PANAGIOTOU ...................................... 1921 
Rev. Leontios LINARDATOS .................................... 1922 
Rev. Paraskevos PAOATHEOFRASTOU ......... ..... 1922 
Rev. Michael THOMAS ............................................ 1922 
Rev. Christ HADJIGEORGE ........ ...... ...................... 1929 
Rev. Demetrios CASSIS ............................... ........ ..... 1929 
(non·canonical) 
Rev. George THALASINOS ...................................... 1931 
Rev. Basilios MIKELIS ............................................. .. . 1932 
Rev. Demosthenes TSIMARDAS ... ..... ... ...... ............. 1934 
Rev. Angelo KONTONICOLAOU .......................... 193 7 
Rev. Demetrios MITT ACOS .................................... 193 7 
Rev. Emanuel PAPADOGEORDAKIS ..... ......... ...... 1947 
Rev. George BARTZ ........... ... ....................... .. .. .. ....... 1948 
Rev. Spiridon ECONOMOU ... ...................... ........... 1951 
Rev. George HADJIS ........................................... ...... . 1952 
Rev. George KOSTAN ............................................. . 
Rev . Paul Michaelidis 
Rev . James Dokos 
Rev . George Georgiadis 
TRIBUTE 
The congregation of St. Nicholas Greek 
Orthodox Church res pectively thanks its 
sister parishes for their continual support. 
St. John Church 
Rev. John Alexandrou, Pastor 
, Rage +=ntt 
PARISH 
PRESIDENTS 
1919 -~ \ ,~L..-
Mr. Steve YIOYIANIDES 
Mr. Pericles CHENGELIS 
Mr. Sam BAHARIS 
Mr. James MAMONIS 
Mr. Steve MASTRONESTIS 
Mr. Nicholas DENIAKIS 
Mr. James PAPPAS 
Mr. Harry GADINES 
Mr. Nicholas MASTERS 
Mr. Theodore BAXEVANDES 
Mr. Theodore CHENGELIS 
Mr. Gust KOLITSOS 
Mr. Charles SENANEFES 
Mr. George MAYS 
Mr. Gus MAVRIGIAN 
Mr . Socrates Kolitso~ 
Mr . Gregory Demetri 
Mr . Chris Ladas