Commemorating its 60th Anniversary

A Brief History of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

By William G. Poulos

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Stability & Growth

Part 3 of 3

The Plateia groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 8, 2000, during the administration of Parish Council President Nikolas Bouloubassis. His successor, George Perdikakis, the Parish Council, and the entire community are currently bringing the project to completion.

A grant of $400,000 from the State of Maryland obtained through the efforts of then State Senator Perry Sfikas, and a gift of $150,000 from Peter G. Angelos have been instrumental in defraying the cost of the Plateia project.

The major building and renovation projects were complimented by two significant additions inside the main church building. These projects were designed to strengthen the spiritual and the intellectual life of the Parish-- the iconography project in the Altar and the St. Nicholas Library.

The iconography project consisted of the icons of the Platytera and the Four Hierarchs. They were painted in 1995 by iconographer Athanasios Clark on the wail behind the altar table in the sanctuary. In 1998, Mr. Clark added the traditional angels to the Platytera. The St. Nicholas Library, dedicated on November 7, 1999, was established with a monetary gift in the amount of $7,500 from Mr. Evangelos Angelou and his children Dr. John Angelou and Maria Angelou in memory of their wife and mother, Aristoniki Angelou. Its growing collectiOn is a resource for all those interested in Orthodoxy and the Hellenic culture.

In addition to the major internal projects, the community also participated in a variety of Diocesan and Archdiocesan level endeavors which included: hosting the Diocese Clergy Laity 'Conference in 1993, co-planning and participating in the Tr-Parish Millennium Dance, co-hosting the National YAL Conference in 2003, and chairing the District Oratorical Festivals in 2001 and 2003.

During the last decade of the 1980's and the first years of the new millennium, the parish not only expanded its Church oriented services and facilities but also strengthened its ties to both the Greek Americannd the general surrounding communities. Three Parish affiliated organizations highlight this development: the Greek Orthodox � Counseling and Social Services (GOCSS), the Greek Independence Day Parade Committee and the Greektown Community Development Corporation (GCDC).

In 1985, The GOCSS was officially incorporated as a joint effort of the three Baltimore area Churches with a satellite office established at St. Nicholas in 1990. This organization endeavors to address the social and cultural stresses particular to the Greek American Community.

The Greek Independence Day Parade Committee, which was founded and organized by AHEPA in 1996 to plan and coordinate the annual parade, uses the St. Nicholas facilities as its base of operations.

The GCDC, which was created to stabilize and reinvigorate Greektown, also has close ties to St. Nicholas and uses the church facilities for its meetings.

During the period of Fr. Burdusi's tenure at St. Nicholas, two men ably assisted him with his many duties and responsibilities as Proistamenos. The first of these is Father Petros Kakaris, a visiting Priest from Rhodes Island, Greece, who served by Father's side from 1996 to 2002.

The other man is Michael Diamond who served as Pastoral Assistant from 2001 to 2003. In addition to assisting Father Burdusi, Michael concentrated on youth ministry, adult Christian education and the Vacation Bible School.

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