{"id":156,"date":"2022-02-09T13:30:50","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T13:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westrandhellenic.co.za\/wp1\/?page_id=156"},"modified":"2022-03-01T10:35:33","modified_gmt":"2022-03-01T10:35:33","slug":"our-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westrandhellenic.co.za\/wp1\/our-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Our History"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Founding of our community<\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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In 1968 a few Greek Orthodox inhabitants of the West Rand in Johannesburg decided to make a reality of their dream of creating a church around which a vibrant community\/parish would be established for the benefit of the community. They approached Mr Piet du Plessis the mayor of Krugersdorp municipality with a survey of the Greek Orthodox population on the West Rand, and an appeal for assistance. The community was allocated 3 stands on the 4th November 1968 in the new suburb of Noordheuwel, Krugersdorp, measuring 8000 square meters at a token cost of R50 each. The ground, together with legal and other expenses, cost a total of R500.00.<\/span><\/p>\n

This event led to the founding of our community at a meeting held in the home of Andreas Hajipavlou. In February 1969, the West Rand Hellenic Community was formed to serve the Greek speaking population in an area consisting of Florida, Roodepoort, Krugersdorp, Randfontein, Westonaria, Carletonville and Fochville. A constitution was adopted and the first council was elected with the late Mr Alecos Palexas as President, Mr Andreas Hajipavlou as Vice President and Mr Nicolas Palexas as Treasurer. The honour of 1st Honorary President of the Community was unanimously bestowed on Mr Alecos Palexas in recognition of his untiring work in the community, for his guidance, assistance and financial help to many immigrants making South Africa their new home. After his death, this honour was bestowed on Mr. Andreas Hajipavlou who had helped to initiate the founding of the Community and served for 16 years on the Council and as President.<\/span><\/p>\n

The inaugural fund-raising function was at a luncheon hosted by Mrs Yiannoula Palexas wife of Mr Nicolas Palexas. At this function the first funds (R500) to start building the Church of Saint Andrew were collected. After\n this modest start, the first Saint Andrew’s festival (Panigiri) was held on Saint Andrew\u2019s festival, the 29th November 1972 on a levelled piece of ground where the church stands today. The sum of R700 was raised. Since\n then the Panigiri has been held on a Sunday on that date or on the first Sunday in December and has become renown amongst the Greek Orthodox population of Gauteng, and throughout the whole country, for its authentic folk\n atmosphere and hospitality.<\/p>\n

The building of the church, designed by the late Lano Michaelides and constructed by Nestor Kitalides and John Augustides, commenced in 1972 and was completed in 1974. The total cost of the building, icons and complete furnishings\n of the church, cost the small community the sum of R125 000. The iconostasi which dates back over 100 years, was donated to Saint Andrew\u2019s by the Greek Community of Pretoria and is from the old Pretoria Greek Church which\n was demolished and rebuilt in another part of town. The iconostasi was made to fit into the new church and today pays tribute to the magnificent workmanship of yesteryear.<\/p>\n

Mr Gabriel Kostandinides raised the necessary funds in order to commission the many icons which now appear in the iconostasi. Mr Kostandinides personally collected the icons from Ayion Oros (Mount Athos) in Greece.<\/p>\n

The first Holy Icon of Saint Andrew the First-Chosen Apostle, was brought to our church from the Holy Monastery of Saint Andrew in Rizokarpasso in the occupied part of Cyprus, by Mrs. Yianoula Palexas, wife of the Founder-Treasurer,\n Nicolas Palexas having requested this from Ieromonahos Kleopas one of the monks there.<\/p>\n

On Sunday 18th August 1974 the first church service was held in our new church. The fact that it coincided with the Turkish invasion and occupation of The Monastery of Apostolos Andreas in Rizokarpasso in Cyprus, did not\n go unnoticed by the devout worshippers. This coincidence has a deep significance for the many Cypriot members of our community.<\/p>\n

The new Saint Andrew\u2019s Greek Orthodox Church has become a living symbol of hope and faith, to once again return to the freed historic monastery in Cyprus.<\/p>\n

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Dimitrion Hall<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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The Hellenic Community of the West Rand remains thankful to Mr. Stavros and the late Mrs. Geraldine Savvides who kindly donated the Dimition Hall in memory of their son Dimitris Savvides who died tragically in a car crash at the age\n of 18. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Our Priests (Past and Present)<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Rev. Neofitos Evangelidis<\/h5>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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The late Rev. Neofitos Evangelidis was ordained on the 9th Janaury 1977. In 1991 he retired due to ill health and passed away on the 14th May 1995.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Protopresbyter Dimitris Vergitsis<\/h5>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Protopresbyter Dimitris Vergitsis, was welcomed as our 4th priest on 26th March 1992.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Protopresbyter Prof. DR. Evangelos Nicolaides<\/h5>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Protopresbyter Prof. DR. Evangelos Nicolaides joined the parish in September 2008. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Protopresbyter Stelios Nathanael<\/h5>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Protopresbyter Stelios Nathanael joined WRHC Parish in February 2021.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Our Psaltes<\/em><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Our excellent long serving psaltes or chanters are:\n
First Voice – Andreas Flourentzou\n
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Andreas Flourentzou has served as chanter since 1995. The late Andreas Lionrarides was second voice and served second voice from 2002 to 2021. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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In memoriam of Andreas Hajipavlou<\/em><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Andreas Hajipavlou, aged 87, died peacefully on 24 October 2013 at his home, after a brief struggle with poor health. He was born on 30 November 1926 in the village of rizokarpasso, Cyprus.<\/p>\n

To the parishioners of Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, Andreas was a guiding light and a founding father. He set the example of what a devoted husband, father and friend should be. He always did his best to be patient with all\n of his children, and there are three of them, so that was no easy feat. He tried to carve out some quality time with each of them and was the perfect father.<\/p>\n

He was a visionary who set a shining example of the kind of unconditional love required to see a marriage through good times and bad – always an optimist, always willing to pitch in and do whatever was needed, all the time truly believing\n that things would work out in the end, and they did.<\/p>\n

Andreas was also a fantastic friend. He always saw the good in people, and if he saw the bad, he certainly didn’t gossip about it. If you needed him, he was there and asking what he could do to help. His wonderful sense of humour and\n sharp wit and above all deep love for God were clear for all to see.<\/p>\n

He had a great deal of faith and rarely missed Sunday services as long as he was physically able to attend. He truly believed that he could “pass through raging waters in the sea and not drown” because God was with him the entire time.\n He will be sorely missed.<\/p>\n

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