Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • OCA Holy Synod Elects Archimandrite Vasily (Permiakov) as Bishop of San Francisco and the West
    • Dr. Vigen Guroian Speaking on the Unity of the Orthodox Church and Orthodox Christian Student Fellowships on College Campuses in America
    • American Orthodoxy Today: Results from the Pew and CES Surveys
    • Summer Edition (Vol. 1, No. 3, 2025) of the St Sophia Quarterly
    • The Power of a Backpack: A Short Film by FOCUS
    • OCMC Board of Directors Appoints Dr. Nathan Hoppe as New Executive Director
    • Suprasl: Enhancing the Awareness of Unity – July 2025 Newsletter
    • Video: A Vision for Orthodox Christianity’s Future in North America
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
    • Home
    • OCL
      • About OCL
      • Leadership
      • OCL News
      • OCL Publications
      • Focused Study and Research Topics
      • OCL Archives at DePaul University
    • Orthodox News & Links
      • Orthodox News Stories
      • Headlines & News Archives
      • Governance & Unity
        • Governance Top Stories
        • Governance & Unity Essays
        • Grassroots Unity in Action
      • OCL Forums
      • Orthodox Christian Laity News
      • Web Links
    • Audio & Video
      • Audio Index
      • Video Index
    • Contact
    • Make a Donation
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    You are at:Home»Orthodox News»Greek brothers come to Scranton to revitalize church

    Greek brothers come to Scranton to revitalize church

    0
    By Webmaster on June 4, 2014 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Telegram WhatsApp Copy Link

    Scranton ChurchSource: The Times Tribune

    By Peter Cameron

    Standing in his empty 90-year-old church, the Rev. Father Konstantine Eleftherakis pulls a Verizon smartphone from his faded black cassock.

    With half the walls at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Scranton covered with fresh and colorful icons, and the other half exhibiting older, smaller and faded ones, the priest projects an apt symbol of the building, which has become a mixture of old and new.

    Last fall, two brothers from the city of Thessaloniki in Greece came to the church and revitalized the interior with vibrant portraits of Jesus and Mary, saints and biblical stories, such as the burning bush. But the process to get even half the church painted was a difficult one.

    “There were so many disasters,” said Father Eleftherakis.

    The worst involved the collapse of scaffolding in front of the altar, which luckily didn’t fall on anyone or damage any of the ornate and delicate church objects and iconography.

    The church, built in 1924 by Greek immigrants, also had to raise the funds for the work, which the priest would only say can cost large churches millions of dollars and cost Annunciation “a lot of money.”

    Still, the priest jumped at the opportunity to bring the two artisan brothers, Panayiotis and Demetrios Christodoulos, to Scranton. He first noticed their iconography work in a small church in Maine, he said.

    “We’re not doing this just because we want the church to look nice or colorful,” he said. “It’s about what we believe. Iconography is so crucial to the daily life of the Orthodox Christian.”

    In contrast, the outside of the church is modest and simple. The juxtaposition is supposed to model the way a person should present him- or herself to the world, but also how vivacious the inner, spiritual self should be, he said.

    The church eventually hopes to bring the brothers back to complete the rest of the walls, but first needs to raise the money — no easy task for the small congregation.

    Father Eleftherakis will be hosting daily church tours at 3 p.m. during the Scranton Greek Festival, which continues through Saturday on the church grounds, 505 N. Washington Ave.

    Contact the writer:
    pcameron@timesshamrock.com, @pcameronTT on Twitter

    [subscribe2]
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp Copy Link
    Previous ArticleLeading Russian Orthodox official says Ukraine’s Eastern Catholics are playing ‘destructive role’
    Next Article North American Catholic and Orthodox officials urge Vatican to allow priests to marry

    Related Posts

    July 16, 20251 Min Read

    American Orthodoxy Today: Results from the Pew and CES Surveys

    July 14, 20251 Min Read

    Summer Edition (Vol. 1, No. 3, 2025) of the St Sophia Quarterly

    July 11, 20251 Min Read

    The Power of a Backpack: A Short Film by FOCUS

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Register for OCL's Annual Conference - October 11, 2025

    Sign the Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity

    Enter the Slogan Contest

    Share this page
    DISCLAIMER

    All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    Stay Informed!

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT!

    Your donation impacts and helps advance the unity of the Orthodox Church of America.

    DONATE NOW

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

    Upcoming Events
    Notice
    There are no upcoming events.
    Recent Comments
    • Jimmy Kallis on HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? REFLECTIONS OF A NOT-SO-INNOCENT BYSTANDER [witnessing the present decline of the Orthodox Church as an institution]
    • Lou Gaviras on How will the Female Diaconate Help Prevent Abuse?
    • pERRY tORMAS on HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? REFLECTIONS OF A NOT-SO-INNOCENT BYSTANDER [witnessing the present decline of the Orthodox Church as an institution]
    • Perry Tormas on HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? REFLECTIONS OF A NOT-SO-INNOCENT BYSTANDER [witnessing the present decline of the Orthodox Church as an institution]
    • Myron Kaleras on How will the Female Diaconate Help Prevent Abuse?
    • Levantios on 90% OF PEOPLE OF GREEK DESCENT HAVE LEFT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
    • Jerry Maras on 90% OF PEOPLE OF GREEK DESCENT HAVE LEFT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
    • John on 90% OF PEOPLE OF GREEK DESCENT HAVE LEFT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
    • Jupiter's Son on Leading Liturgists Reaffirm the Ordination of Women to the Diaconate
    • Timothy Mulligan on Ethno-Phyletism: A Problem for the American Church
    OCL Archives Online
    Project for Orthodox Renewal
    renewal-resize
    OCL Digital Newsletter

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    MAKE A DONATION

    Sign the Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity

    Facebook
    Twitter
    YouTube

    St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL

    footer-fnl

    Orthodox Christian Laity
    PO Box 6954

    West Palm Beach, FL · 33405
    561-585-0245

    Sponsored by Ann Souvall in memory of husband George

    DISCLAIMER: All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    ©2023 Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) ·  Login

    St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL

    footer-fnl

    Orthodox Christian Laity
    PO Box 6954

    West Palm Beach, FL · 33405
    561-585-0245

    Sponsored by Ann Souvall in memory of husband George

    DISCLAIMER: All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    ©2025 Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) ·  Login

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.