As you have seen from the pictures in other blog posts, the rebuilding of St. Basil's is well underway.  The work necessary not just to repair the fire damage, but also renew the Church is largely dependent on generous contributions from the parish, and the broader community.  St. Basil's has been blessed with pledges to date of $850K toward the total goal of $1.3M.

For those of you that have seen the progress to date, you can appreciate that this work will result in a Church that will serve our parish and community for many years to come.  We also want future generations to remember those that contributed to the rebuilding and renewal of St. Basil's.  We will be printing the names of all contributors in an archival book that will be located inside the Church, and become part of its history.  We will also commission a recognition wall for donors that pledged $1,500 or more.  We look forward to sharing a few of the design options in the future.

For now, we have printed a "temporary" recognition wall, which is currently located near the office (and inserted below).  We will be printing updates on a regular basis, and until such time as a permanent wall has been commissioned.  

We are truly blessed for all of the support.  Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (george_tziahanas@yahoo.com).

In Christ's Service,

George Tziahanas, Chair St. Basil's Capital Committee

As we Celebrate our Parish Feastday - a Brief Life of St. Basil the Great

SAINT BASIL THE GREAT, ARCHBISHOP OF CAESAREA

Basil was born during the reign of Emperor Constantine. While still unbaptized, Basil spent fifteen years in Athens where he studied philosophy, rhetoric, astronomy and all other secular sciences of that time. His colleagues at that time were Gregory the Theologian and Julian, later the apostate emperor. In his mature years he was baptized in the river Jordan along with Euvlios his former teacher. He was Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia for almost ten years and completed his earthly life fifty years after his birth. He was a great defender of Orthodoxy, a great light of moral purity, a religious zealot, a great theological mind, a great builder and pillar of the Church of God. Basil fully deserved the title "Great." In liturgical services, he is referred to as the "bee of the Church of Christ which brings honey to the faithful and with its stinger pricks the heretics." Numerous works of this Father of the Church are preserved; they include theological, apologetical, ascetical and canonical writings as well as the Holy and Divine Liturgy named after him. This Divine Liturgy is celebrated ten times throughout the year: the First of January, his feast day; on the eve of the Nativity of our Lord; on the eve of the Epiphany of our Lord; all Sundays of the Honorable Fast [Lenten Season], except Palm Sunday; on Great and Holy Thursday and on Great and Holy Saturday. St. Basil died peacefully on January 1, 379 A.D., and was translated into the Kingdom of Christ.

- From The Prologue from Ochrid

Update on Church Repair Progress

Over the last few days, the slag (a bi-product from smelting metals that was used as insulation in the floor of our church (something that was common in the early 1900s)) has been removed from the floors in the church (the plan is to replace it with conventional insulation in the floors for sound purposes).  And the leveling and replacing of the entire nave floor is underway.  For more information on the what we're doing and to support our work, visit our capital campaign website here.

Sunday School Christmas Pageant

On Sunday, December 21, our Sunday school youth and teachers put on their annual Christmas pageant.   We had a beautiful turn out from our young people.  Much thanks to parent and teachers who mad the event possible.

Prison Ministry Delivers Gifts to Children of Inmates

On Saturday, December 20th, our prison ministry team delivered gifts to 59 young people whose parents are incarcerated.  Parishioners from St. Basil bought and wrapped the gifts and brought them to church on the previous Sundays, and the prison ministry team delivered them to the doors of these families.  Through the generous donations of our parishioners, we were also able to give a $30 Jewel gift card to each household where we delivered gifts.  Much thanks to all who donated and volunteered their time, talents and treasures.  Merry Christmas - Kala Xristouyena!!!

St. Basil - Floor Being Removed in Nave and Sanctuary

Below you'll see a photo from earlier this week with the entire solea (the elevated area just in front of the icon screen) and the sanctuary entirely removed.  For more information on our renovation and capital campaign, please visit our parish website here.

Demolition on Solea/Sanctuary Underway

The photos below are from Wednesday, December 10th, and show the east wall of the church - with the elevated area that makes up the solea and sanctuary, completely demolished.  The is the beginning of the tear up of the entire church floor, with the final goal of leveling and re-laying the floor.