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The National Herald - August 24-30, 2013

New Dormition of Virgin Mary Church Opens its Doors

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Theodore Kalmoukos
TNH Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – The newly-built church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary [...] has been inaugurated.

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The Archbishop of America, Demetrios, officiated at a ceremony [...] assisted by [...] the Head Priest of the Ecumenical Throne, Father Alex Karloutsos, who has held the position since 1998. Constandinos Lazarakis, the Vicar of the community also assisted.

Talking to Ethnikos Kirix, Father Karloutsos [...]

[...] added, “We dug out the land 10 years ago but some Greeks had sued us and delayed us but this turned into a big blessing because young people came along who know how to build churches. And also there came other people as benefactors such as a couple who offered us $2 million and imagine that the man is a Protestant and the woman is a Jew. “

He continued: “In answer why he did something like that, he said because we had helped them spiritually. They came to me for advice and wanted to offer something to the church. They want to remain anonymous.”

Father Karloutsos said the project cost $12 million and said was paid in full.| “I was thinking about this yesterday because when I came here in 1998 I was upset with Archbishop Spyridon and I had decided to serve a community because everybody knew I was involved in political and economic issues and I wanted to go to a humble church.

“This also helped me spiritually as a human being because many times when you go to grandiose things you lose the simpler and essential things. When Archbishop Demetrios came he asked me to help with Leadership 100 and told me to keep the community because everyone now says that you are both a good shepherd and a good priest. And let me tell you I was happy with this and this was God’s Will. People started coming, the congregation was increased, we couldn’t have a Greek school the way we should nor a Sunday School. We couldn’t serve the elderly and now sincerely I am happy because now we can serve our people.”

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[ The National Herald - August 24-30, 2013 - pp. 1 & 4 ]