Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Miami, Florida
Metropolis of Atlanta
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A Greek Church, A History, A Tradition...
Mr. John Colozoff
A major decision was made in 1941 to purchase a new site and construct a new church and community center in order to meet the needs of our growing community, A committee was formed under the leadership of President John Colozoff which included such members as Peter Vamvaks, George Karnegis and others, who jointly and severally assumed this responsibility and did in fact purchase the land where the beautiful Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral now stands. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941, our community weathered the difficult days of World War II as many of our young men left home to serve our country both in Europe and the Pacific theater of war.
From its inception, the Saint Sophia community was blessed with the services of twelve priests, each of which brought their special gifts and talents in ministering to the parishioners. Among them was, Father Methodios Phousianis, who served from 1944-1949, during the height of the construction of the new Cathedral. In 1944, Rev. Demosthenes J. Mekras assisted Fr. Phousianis and later assumed the spiritual leadership of Saint Sophia, a post he led with wisdom and dedication for 43 years. In the early years of his tenure, Reverend Father Mekras ministered to an Orthodox population covering almost half of Florida from points south of Tarpon Springs and Jacksonville all the way to and including the Caribbean
The cornerstone of the new Saint Sophia was laid on March 7, 1948, with His Grace Bishop Germanos officiating. The parish council retained the services of famed architect Chrystophoros P. Kantianis to design and supervise the construction of a Byzantine Church, in addition to a Community Center, which housed an auditorium/gymnasium and several classrooms. A native of Greece and honor graduate of the University of Syracuse, Mr. Kantianis also designed and supervised construction of other Greek Churches in the United States notably Charlotte, North Carolina and Worcester, Massachusetts. Architect Kantianis is also a Honored member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon ΔΚΕ; is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844, but 100 year after founded reborn in Syracuse University of New York by 16 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies ( Alpha Delta Phi and Psi Upsilon). They therefore formed their own fraternity to establish a fellowship "where the candidate most favored was he who combined in the most equal proportions the gentleman, the scholar, and the jolly good fellow."
The buildings were completed and the doors were opened to the community in the year 1950. Marble for the church entrance, the pulpit, the Psaltir - chanter stand, the Bishop’s throne and the altar was brought from Pentele, Greece which is famous for its quarries. It features the same marble used for the construction of the Archeological world’s ancient attraction of Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
Mr. George Karnegis
A few years later, the interior of the church was completed in Italy with the installation of the Iconostasis. The mosaics icons as well as the authentic byzantine beautiful iconography of Saint Sophia Church were the creation of the well known iconographer Stelios Maris in the Byzantine design which gave the most outstanding, impressive and breath taking beauty of the Greek Orthodox Churches ever build in the United States.
The beautiful stained glass windows were produced in Miami by Southern Glass. Up to a few years ago, Saint Sophia was a regular stop for tour buses who brought visitors to the Cathedral to light candles and view the imported marbles and extraordinary beautiful interior of the Cathedral.
George Karnegis was elected as President of our Church Community in the year of 1950. His dedication and abnegation was marked with extraordinary leadership that contributed to the progress and consolidation of our community for more than fifteen years of wise service.
Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church was consecrated with the relics of Saint Andrew, Nestor and Haralambos, whose life of exemplary Christians serve the daily life of our Parishioners. Put the brief version of their life story and the picture of the place where the relics are on the altar.
The Consecration
His Eminency Archbishop Iakovos of America attending the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church at 1073. Note His Eminency Archbishop Iakovos in 2 moments of the Ceremony
The Consecration of the church was carried out on November 25th, 1973 officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos and was attended by the Honorable Maurice A. Ferre, Mayor, City of Miami; the Hon. Chuck Hall, Mayor, City of Miami Beach; the Hon. Jack Orr, Mayor Met. Dade County; the Hon. Thomas E. Lee, Jr., Chief Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida; the Hon. C. Clyde Atkins, U.S. District Judge, The Southern District of Florida; the Hon. Nicholas Galifanakis (Check who is he); Dr. Irving Lehman, Rabbi, Temple Emanu-el, Hon. President, Synagogue Council of America; the Rt. Rev. James L. Duncan, D.D., Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Southeast Florida; the Most. Rev Coleman F. Carrol, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Miami; His Excellency Ioannis A. Sorokos, Ambassador of Greece to the United States; Very Rev. Demosthenes J. Mekras, Priest, St. Sophia; The Committee of Organizer Members; Parish Council Members, dedicated Parishioners and other guests and invitees.
Dignitaries as Archbishop Iakovos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church; Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States; Reubin Askew, Governor of Florida; His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Catania; and Maurice Ferre, Mayor of Miami at the time of the Consecration has acknowledged the vent with special written messages of Congratulations.
It is important to acknowledge the enormous dedication, efforts and contributions by the community History Committee Members; Banquet Committee; Album Committee; Publicity Committee; Transportation Committee; Flower Arrangements and Decorations; Secretarial Committee; Finance Committee and all the social and philanthropic organizations that took part in the preparation and the celebration of the Consecration Ceremony and Celebration of St. Sophia Church of 1973. An Album Book of the Consecration of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church was published soon after the consecration that was elaborated and printed under the Chairmanship of Dr. James G. Demopoulos.
St. Andrews
The First Called Apostle
St. Stachys
Bishop of Byzantium