A RCHDIOCESE N E WS
FEBRUARY–MARCH 2011
St. Photios Shrine Board Metropolitan Alexios attended the Feb. 5th annual meeting of the St. Photios Foundation. Board of Trustees of the St. Photios Foundation include: (seated) Fr. George Ioannou (Shrine chaplain), Polly Hillier, Manuel Tissura (1st vice president), Metropolitan Alexios (president), Rev. Dr. Nicholas Louh (executive director), Fr. Peter Balkas (Chicago), Fr. Joseph Samaan (Daytona Beach), Fr. Nicholas Pathenos (Detroit). (standing): Nicholas Stamatogiannakis, Bill Toundas, George Stratigos (San Francisco), Anthony Megas (2nd vice president), Rose McGrath (Boston), Sophia Nichols Karakoglu (New Jersey), Angelo Koukoulis (Pittsburgh), Vannette Carousis (New Jersey), William Bisbikis (Detroit), Ted Pappas, Maria Carantzas (treasurer), Peter Bouras, Leslye Phillips (secretary), Joanne Stavrakas (Chicago) and Harry Tom Cavalaris (emeritus vice president).
IOCC Receives $300,000 Archdiocese Grant to Aid Greek Family Farms from page 2 equipment. The grants will be repaid through in-kind support provided by the farmers to meal distribution centers of the Church of Greece and the Municipality of Athens. The advanced age of many farmers in the Peloponnese region discourages them from investing in their farming facilities and from adopting new practices, which are critically needed in order to meet the demands of international markets for farming products. By providing assistance to young people with families, the grants are intended to help families maintain their farms rather than being forced to migrate to urban areas. In addition to the grants, farmers in fire-stricken areas will receive assistance through soil analysis. Priority will be given to farmers who produce olives, grapes and vegetables. Technicians will take samples
from the farmers’ fields and perform the tests. Using data gathered through the soil tests, technicians will provide instruction to farmers on how to use the data to improve their yield. The soil laboratory, constructed by IOCC beginning in 2008 in Pyrgos, capital of the prefecture, was funded through a grant from the Archdiocese and The Pancretan Association of America. It has been in operation since the middle of 2009 to provide for reliable, local testing of soils for farmers in the region. To date the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has provided a total of more than $3.6 million to fund projects carried out by IOCC following the fires in Greece. In addition to the soil lab, emergency provisions of animal feed and forage seed were provided to more than 2,000 Greek farmers in the provinces of Ileia and Arcadia who lost livestock and pasturelands in the fire. New equipment was also provided to firefighters in the region.
Obituary from page 3 Ezekiel Tsoukalas. His first assignment as a priest was to the Annunciation Church in Woburn, Mass., where he served for two years. Fr. Metaxas was then transferred to the Taxiarchae Church in Watertown in September 1953. He retired July 1, 1999. During his 54 years at the Taxiarchae Church, Father Metaxas performed over 2,800 baptisms, 1,660 marriages and 1,350 funerals. From 1960-1965, he served as chaplain for the Orthodox workers at the U.S. Arsenal in Watertown. From 1965 to 1976, he served as chaplain at Boston University for all the Orthodox students. He also served as assistant to the Orthodox chaplain for the Brockton and Bedford veterans hospitals for 20 years. Fr. Metaxas has received the following Pastoral honors from the Archdiocese. On Feb. 26, 1956, Archbishop Michael bestowed on him the officium (title) of Sakellarios. On June 22, 1958, Bishop Athenagoras appointed him as Father Confessor. On Nov. 8, 1970, Archbishop Iakovos bestowed on him the officium of Economos and on May 20, 1976, Archbishop Iakovos also
bestowed on him the officium of Protopresbyter. On Dec. 1, 1983, he was recognized as “Man of the Year” in Middlesex County. In 1959, the Taxiarchae community celebrated the burning of the mortgage with Archbishop Michael presiding. The community became debt-free. In 1984, the parish embarked on a new expansion program and, on Oct. 29, 1989, the grand opening of the Hellenic Cultural Center took place. It was dedicated in honor of Fr. Metaxas. In January 1994, Watertown dedicated Coolidge Square next to the Church in his honor. When Father Metaxas first arrived at the Taxiarchae Church in 1953, there were 325 families in the community. Throughout the ensuing years, the membership steadily grew even though three new churches were established in the area. At this time, the Taxiarchae community is blessed with 800 families. Fr. Metaxas is survived by Penny, their three children, Stanley, Margaret and Stella and three grandchildren. Funeral services took place Tuesday, March 1, with Archbishop Demetrios officiating and Metropolitan Methodios of Boston and many priests participating.
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