The Third Decade: The 1940’s
In the previous writing, The Second Decade The 1930s, the author made a slight error: the caption of the figure 9 of the new church incorrectly stated that the rubble in the background came from the wooden church. With new archival information, we learned that the wooden church remained standing until Plato Day School was built.
In the 1920s, the trustees and founding fathers established plans and secured funding, resulting in the wooden church that had an afternoon Greek school, weddings, and baptisms.
In the 1930s, a decade marked by the Great Depression, the Church community continued their efforts through their unwavering faith and resilience and ended the decade with a completed church structure.
IMAGE 1–Majestic Byzantine Church Interior- Assumption Church, late 1930s, early 1940s
(adapted from Fifty Years 1925 - 1975, p. 49)
As the 1940s began, storm clouds of war loomed over Europe. At home, the Church community united for the next goal: to furnish and decorate the Church. Inspired by the contributions of the young women’s Delta Kappa Theta organization, the young men formed Hellenic Orthodox Youth (H.O.Y.), allowing them to also contribute to the Church and the community. However, following the first Thanksgiving Liturgy in the new Church, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. As a result, this first generation of H.O.Y. was short-lived, as the United States entered WWII, and the boys went to war.
The Women’s Club, Delta Kappa Theta, and the Philoptochos were active in the early 1940s, raising funds to decorate the church's interior.
The following donations were made to the interior of the church:
1942
1944
Upon their return from the war, the boys, under the guidance of Father Bithos, the assistant priest, merged with the Delta Kappa Theta and formed O.Y. Orthodox Youth, a co-ed organization. They also acquired a charter from the American Legion and named themselves “Evzones” Post No. 1039. Their meetings were held in the Church's basement, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the church and the community.
In 1947, the Trustees elected Odysseus (Mike) Korompilas President. He and Father Mastrantonis worked closely to complete the Church's interior decoration. Mike Korompilas contributed major art pieces to encourage other individuals and organizations to participate.
By the summer of 1947, the Church had made thorough preparations for its consecration. A beautifully designed invitation was created, accompanied by a specially minted medal that was attached to it. After careful planning, October 19, 1947, was selected as the significant date for the consecration ceremony. In Orthodox Church practice, the Church Day begins at sunset. The Vespers, the Orthros, and the Consecration occurred on the same day.
IMAGE 2 –President of the Trustees and Archbishop Athenagoras in the Narthex, (adapted from
Fifty Years 1925 - 1975,p 69.)
Archbishop Athenagoras would lead the congregation and preside over the Vespers.
IMAGE 3–Archbishop Athenagoras in the Bishop's throne during Vespers. (Adapted from Fifty Years 1925-1975, p.69)
The above image depicts the finished Church in contrast to image 1.
IMAGE 4 –His Eminence Athenagoras, Bishop Gerasimos, and the Clergy of Chicago were present at Vespers. (Adapted from Fifty Years, 1925-1975, p. 69)
IMAGE 5 - His Eminence was surrounded by community leaders at the Vespers' conclusion.
(adapted from Fifty Years, 1925-1975, p. 69)
At 8:30 A.M., His Eminence Athenagoras, Bishop Gerasimos, and other clergy began the Orthros. Martyrs' relics are used for the consecration. The relics were placed on the paten of the Holy Altar. At the end of the Orthros, the entire congregation exits the church to the front steps. It is believed that the crowd was about 2000 people.
Archbishop Athenagoras emerged with the covered relics, with an Evzone escort flanked by priests, deacons, chanters, altar boys, choir, and parishioners. Archbishop Athenagoras led the procession around the church three times.
His Eminence placed the relics on a table outside the church and offered a
prayer. Following this solemn act, he stepped inside the church, now transformed into its sacred state of holiness.
IMAGE 6 (on following page) -Community Life featured salient moments of the Consecration
.
The Sunday Tribune Featured Assumption’s first Easter after the Consecration on May 2, 1948, officiated by Father Mastrantonis.
The journey began in August 1925 with the first Liturgy for Panagia, continued to 1927 when Father Papanicolaou stood before the wooden church alongside the Plato School children, progressed to the construction of the new Church in 1937, and culminated in the first Easter celebration within the consecrated Church in 1948. Through unwavering faith and resilience, our Panagia family has flourished and will continue to grow.
Καλο Πασχα and Happy Easter
