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Fr. Constantine Tsapralis
served 1903-1936
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(Note: The Holy Trinity Historical Society gratefully acknowledges members of the Tsapralis family who contributed family photographs and
historical memorabilia for our historical archive.
Please See Tsapralis Virtual Photo Album)
Fr. Tsapralis was the first priest to appear in the official records of Holy Trinity. It is important to note that there were Greek priests in
San Francisco serving the Greek community prior to the founding of Holy Trinity. However, it is very clear that the Greek community hired
Fr. Tsapralis as the first priest of Holy Trinity. The first liturgy was celebrated December 25, 1903.
Fr. Tsapralis arrived in the United States May 19, 1903. A year and a half later, he sent for his wife Eleni and son Basil. They arrived
September 17, 1904. From 1903 - 1936, Fr. Tsapralis served at Holy Trinity. Church records show that there was a break in his service from
July 1908 to December 1909. The reason is not known. During that time Archimandritis Stefanos Makaronis served Holy Trinity.
In December 1903, Holy Trinity was the only Greek Orthodox Church in California. During these early years several priests served Holy Trinity
and members of the clergy traveled to California, Nevada, and as far as Arizona performing baptisms, marriages, etc. In some cases,
Fr. Tsapralis traveled as far as Fresno by horse and buggy. These priests were dedicated, energetic, and paved the way for others to
follow.
Fr. Tsapralis lived at 24 Cleveland Street. The address was just around the corner from the church. The home was purchased as a gift
for him by Alexander Kosta. Today, the house no longer exists. It has been replaced by a school which takes up most of the block. Father and
Presvytera Eleni were blessed with three sons; Basil, Paul, & John and two daughters; Aphrodite (Effie) and Madeline.
Fr. Tsapralis, over the years, has been described as "durable". During Fr. Tsapralis' years of service
the Greek community went through the 1906 earthquake & fire and several schisms that fractured the Greek community. Fr. Tsapralis led Holy
Trinity through all these difficult periods.
Fr. Tsapralis was often described as kind & compassionate. The older members of the community described him as a good teacher and someone
who was gentle with the children.
In 1913, a Greek man named Prantikos was convicted of murder. Fr. Tsapralis was asked to go to San Quentin to administer the last rights
before Prantikos was hung for his crime. The event, described in the San Francisco Call Bulletin, said that Fr. Tsapralis was reading prayers
on the way to the gallows. He was described as a strong, tall man. On the gallows, his knees buckled and he wavered at the sight before him.
The prison chaplain put his arm around him to support him because he was worried that he might fall through the gallows. Fr. Tsapralis
continued reading prayers and he witnessed the hanging. The prison chaplain later described him as a kind, gentle soul.
In 1936, the Archdiocese sent Fr. Vasilios Lokis to Holy Trinity. Fr. Tsapralis was getting ready to retire. The intent was to send Fr.
Tsapralis an assistant who would eventually take over. A few months later, Fr. Lokis tried to unite the two
Greek churches in San Francisco, Annunciation & Holy Trinity. Annunciation voted for unification and Holy Trinity did not. Anastasios Haritsas, the president of
Holy Trinity's parish council, wrote several letters to the Archbishop in New York asking him to remove Fr. Lokis. The community filed a lawsuit
preventing him from entering Holy Trinity property. The lawsuit was settled. Fr. Lokis left Holy Trinity and was hired by Annunciation. Holy
Trinity later hired a priest not affiliated with the Archdiocese. As a result, Fr. Tsapralis wrote the Archbishop asking him for permission
to leave Holy Trinity and join Annunciation and his request was granted.
After Presvytera Eleni's passing he was given the title of Archimandrite by Archbishop Athenagoras and given the name "Benjamin". Fr.
Tsapralis passed away in 1942 at the age of 73. Regrettably, both Father & Presvytera Eleni passed away before their daughter Madeline reached
18 years of age. She had no legal guardian. Her sister Effie's first husband, Tom Sagris, legally adopted Madeline and became her legal
guardian.
Father's great great grandson, Fr. Chris Flesoras, currently serves the SF Metropolis as the priest of St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church in
Roseville, CA.
The information in this article was compiled from newspaper articles, oral history interviews, family letters, and church records. Questions regarding
this article? Please send the historical society an email.
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