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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Holy Trinity Church New Century Ball
November 13, 2005
Westin Hotel
Burlingame, California
Remarks by Father Michael Pappas
A wonderful story is told of the earliest Greek settlers in San Francisco. When they decided to build the Holy Trinity Church on Seventh
Street, the pastor of the St. Alexander Nevsky parish, where they had been worshipping up until then, got very nervous that he was going to
lose a good part of his congregation; so nervous that he sent a telegram, to that effect, to his local bishop. That bishop, whose name was
Tikhon, being an economical fellow, responded with just three words, "God Help Them!" His exclamation proved to be more of a prayer than a
threatening insult. His exclamation proved to be more of a prophecy than skeptical sarcasm; For God did, does and always will help the Holy
Trinity Church.
God helped our courageous pioneer ancestors realize their dream to build and establish the first Greek Orthodox Church west of the Mississippi
River, a church which would preserve and cultivate our ancient faith and rich culture. When we had outgrown that precious little jewel of a
Church, God helped us to do what no one thought we could do - build the magnificent sanctuary which today towers over Brotherhood Way.
When our children needed a place to learn, God inspired us to create the only Greek Orthodox parochial school in Northern California, a school
which has educated scholars, distinguished professionals and stellar citizens who continue to contribute to the greater good of society.
When a haven was needed for our young people to gather, to compete in athletics, to dance and to engage in other cultural activities, there
was God's hand once again in the construction of the Holy Trinity George and Tula Christopher Center, a magnet of an edifice drawing together
the faithful of all ages to interact in the arena of life.
Yes, Bishop Tikhon, God HAS helped us! He has provided for us! He has inspired us! He has guided us! And He has enabled us to discover our
potential as His children by laboring together to the glory of His Name. All this He has done, because in each generation we have heeded His
call to be a people of vision and a people of faith. All this He has done, because in each generation we have heeded His warning in the 29th
Proverb that, "A people without vision shall perish!"
It has been more than ten years since our parish has undertaken a major endeavor. It has been more than a decade since we have rolled up our
sleeves and honored the memory of our forebears by laboring as they did, sacrificing as they did, creating as they did, yet also rejoicing in
the fulfillment which is borne out of such labor, sacrifice and creativity! It is about time that we did!
Today, my brothers and sisters, God is calling us to finish a job which we all know is long overdue; a sacred task which is time sensitive,
yet within our reach; a challenge which Father Anthony left us to meet and a result which will be dedicated to his blessed memory; a priceless
expression of our faith which acknowledges God as the Ruler of all and gives Him His rightful place in our worship and in His Holy House.
Here I speak of our call from God to complete the Pantocrator Icon in the dome of our sanctuary.
Over a thousand years ago when the Russian Emperor Vladimir sought to unify his empire under a single religion, he sent emissaries to go and
witness firsthand the great religions of the world. When they returned and shared their impressions of the beauty and the majesty they
experienced in the Great Church Christ, Aghia Sophia in Constantinople, they said, we did not know whether we were on heaven or on earth. As
a result of that powerful impression, an entire nation was baptized into the Orthodox Christian faith. If the truth be told, we Orthodox
Christians are not as proactive as other faiths when it comes to mission and evangelism, but when unsuspecting souls visit our church for the
first time, their breath is taken away. They sense that unique holiness which those Russian emissaries experienced on that fateful day in
Aghia Sophia. If I had a dollar for every time I saw that expression of awe on the faces of visitors to Holy Trinity, we wouldn't need an
appeal to complete the Pantocrator mosaic.
In the past year Holy Trinity has been blessed with not one but two articles in the San Francisco Chronicle, featuring our iconographer,
Robert Andrews, and his magnificent mosaics at our church. As the result of those articles we have had a stream of pilgrims, students,
architects, artists and curiosity seekers visit our Church. Holy Trinity has become a local landmark and a destination, and rightfully so,
and in the process souls have been touched and a powerful witness to our faith has been rendered. In a profound way, and by no planned
intent of our own, God has led the footsteps of others to our doorstep as a way of quenching their spiritual thirst and feeding their hungry
souls. If ever there was a reason to finish the Pantrocrator in the dome, this should be it.
In this matter, my beloved spiritual children, I have felt the strong call of our Savior. Over the past year I have sensed that this single
endeavor is the common desire of all. Such has been confirmed by the unanimous consensus of both the Parish Council and last Sunday's Parish
Assembly. A haunting voice in my soul has been asking that profound question over and over, "If not us then who, if not now then when?"
It is time my friends, it is time for us to act! God will not abandon us. No, my friends, God will strengthen and inspire and yes, God will
help us in this resolve!
Fr. Michael Index
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