Greek Orthodox Church of St. George (Des Moines, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
The Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Des Moines, Iowa
is a parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
located in the Drake Neighborhood near Drake University
.
The church building was originally built as Elmwood United Presbyterian Church in 1906 in a Greek Revival
architectural style. The Elmwood congregation included the family of Henry Cantwell Wallace
, editor of Wallaces' Farmer and United States Secretary of Agriculture
from 1921 to 1924.
In 1926, the Elmwood congregation merged with another Presbyterian church and sold the building to a Baptist church. The Baptists were unable to attract a congregation in the neighborhood and disbanded in 1930, returning the building to the merged Presbyterian congregation.
In 1924, the Greek community in Des Moines and central Iowa formed a kinotis, or Greek society. In 1928, the immigrants organized a Greek Orthodox parish named for St. George the Great Martyr, which held services with visiting priests on an irregular basis in rented spaces. In 1929, the parish fought U.S. immigration authorities to bring Fr. Meletios Kestekides from Greece
to be its first regular priest.
In late 1930, the parish purchased the former Elmwood United Presbyterian Church building and immediately converted it into an Orthodox church by erecting an iconostasis
in front of the altar. The parish held its first Divine Liturgy
in the building on Christmas Day, 1930. Orthodox icons have been added to the interior over time, but the building retains many artifacts of the original Presbyterian congregation such as the stained glass windows. These windows preserve the names of their original donors.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on February 28, 1997 as part of the architectural legacy of Proudfoot and Bird
in Iowa. On November 4, 1997, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
, Bartholomew I, visited St. George Parish.
In 2005, the parish received its first Iowa-born priest, Fr. Basil Hickman, a native of Mason City, Iowa
.
The parish currently lists 190 member families, consisting of families from traditionally Orthodox ethnic groups and converts to Orthodoxy from other ethnic backgrounds. Cultural events and educational programs sponsored by the parish include the Greek School for Children, a youth Sunday School program, active chapters of Greek Orthodox Youth of America
(GOYA) and Junior Orthodox Youth (JOY), an adult Greek School, a monthly Adult Synaxis (the parish adult education program), a women's Bible study program, and an annual Greek Food Fair held during the first weekend in June. Most educational programs are open to the public, as are all services. The parish has an active Ladies' Philoptochos Society for charitable work. Members of the parish are also active in the Order of AHEPA and the Daughters of Penelope.
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
is a parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, headquartered in New York City, is an eparchy of the Church of Constantinople. Its current primate is Archbishop Demetrios of America.-About the Archdiocese:...
located in the Drake Neighborhood near Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
.
The church building was originally built as Elmwood United Presbyterian Church in 1906 in a Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
architectural style. The Elmwood congregation included the family of Henry Cantwell Wallace
Henry Cantwell Wallace
Henry Cantwell Wallace was a United States farm leader. He served as the Secretary of Agriculture between 1921 and 1924. He was the father of Henry Agard Wallace, who would follow in his footsteps as Secretary of Agriculture under President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
, editor of Wallaces' Farmer and United States Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
from 1921 to 1924.
In 1926, the Elmwood congregation merged with another Presbyterian church and sold the building to a Baptist church. The Baptists were unable to attract a congregation in the neighborhood and disbanded in 1930, returning the building to the merged Presbyterian congregation.
In 1924, the Greek community in Des Moines and central Iowa formed a kinotis, or Greek society. In 1928, the immigrants organized a Greek Orthodox parish named for St. George the Great Martyr, which held services with visiting priests on an irregular basis in rented spaces. In 1929, the parish fought U.S. immigration authorities to bring Fr. Meletios Kestekides from Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to be its first regular priest.
In late 1930, the parish purchased the former Elmwood United Presbyterian Church building and immediately converted it into an Orthodox church by erecting an iconostasis
Iconostasis
In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. Iconostasis also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church...
in front of the altar. The parish held its first Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of the Armenian Catholic Church, use the same term...
in the building on Christmas Day, 1930. Orthodox icons have been added to the interior over time, but the building retains many artifacts of the original Presbyterian congregation such as the stained glass windows. These windows preserve the names of their original donors.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on February 28, 1997 as part of the architectural legacy of Proudfoot and Bird
Proudfoot & Bird
Proudfoot & Bird et al. was an American architectural firm or partnership that designed many buildings in the U.S. midwest. Partners included Willis Thomas Proudfoot and George Washington Bird and Harry Dustan Rawson...
in Iowa. On November 4, 1997, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, Bartholomew I, visited St. George Parish.
In 2005, the parish received its first Iowa-born priest, Fr. Basil Hickman, a native of Mason City, Iowa
Mason City, Iowa
Mason City is the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties....
.
The parish currently lists 190 member families, consisting of families from traditionally Orthodox ethnic groups and converts to Orthodoxy from other ethnic backgrounds. Cultural events and educational programs sponsored by the parish include the Greek School for Children, a youth Sunday School program, active chapters of Greek Orthodox Youth of America
Greek Orthodox Youth of America
The Greek Orthodox Youth of America, or GOYA, is a national youth program of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, headquartered in Garrison, New York. Its main activities are fellowship, service, and social activities....
(GOYA) and Junior Orthodox Youth (JOY), an adult Greek School, a monthly Adult Synaxis (the parish adult education program), a women's Bible study program, and an annual Greek Food Fair held during the first weekend in June. Most educational programs are open to the public, as are all services. The parish has an active Ladies' Philoptochos Society for charitable work. Members of the parish are also active in the Order of AHEPA and the Daughters of Penelope.