A Brief History of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
When the First Christian Church placed its Second Avenue property on the market in 1947, the time seemed ripe for Gus Pappadeas and Chris Boukidis to make a $250 deposit with option to buy. Later that day, they called a meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall and informed their fellow Ahepans of their arrangements. Jack Polson spearheaded the pledge drive that occurred that evening, securing the first $9,000 toward the purchase price.
The name Demetrios was chosen for the foundation and subsequently for the church in honor of two Ahepans, Demosthenes Petropolis and Demetrios Panas, both outstanding University of Arizona scholars and athletes, both killed in action in the second World War.
In the spring of 1951. church leaders met with the District Bishop, His Grace Athenagoras of San Francisco and discussed the feasibility of having a permanent priest assigned to Tucson. Rev. Anthony Sipsas became the first parish priest.
Archbishop Iakovos visisted Tucson in 1964 and discussed the proposed plans to build a new church. Using the architectural drawings of Gus Chonis and the skills of the people in the Merodias Construction Company, the dream of the Hellenic Community was realized when the cornerstone of the church was laid in place in 1967. The Church was built within a year and, in 1968 Archbishop Iakovos concecrated St. Demetrios Church while Hercules Gregory officiated as the godfather of the Church. The first services at the new St. Demetrios Church were celebrated on Palm Sunday, 1968.
The death of George D. Diamos in August of 1968 created the first seed money for the new Sunday School building. His wife, Artemis Diamos, as the Sunday School Director requested that all donations offered for flowers be diverted instead to the Sunday School Building Fund. The new Sunday School Building was completed and dedicated to George D. Diamos on November 14, 1971.
History