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A Humble Beginning
The Saint Nectarios Parish of
Covina, California was established on October 12, 1973. Church Services
commenced at St. John’s Episcopal Church in La Verne, California, on June
30, 1974. Reverend George Hadjis (1974
-1975) was the first priest to hold regular Liturgy on Sundays for the
newly founded Greek Orthodox Church which was then named as Covina-Pomona
Valley Greek Orthodox Church in the City of La Verne, California. He was
succeeded by Archimandrite the Very Reverend Paul Koutoukas (1975-1977) who was the
first full time priest assigned to the Covina-Pomona Valley Greek Orthodox
Church.
Ground Breaking
In May of 1976, property was
purchased in Covina for the purpose of building a temporary church.
In June of 1976 the name of St.
Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church, by an overwhelming vote, was selected as
the patron Saint of the parish. Father Spiro Pieratos was transferred from
St. Sophia Parish San Antonio Texas to St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox
Church. He served as a full time priest from 1977 until his retirement in
1993. Ground-breaking for construction took place in November of 1978.
Actual construction began in
1979, with the first Liturgy being celebrated on June 15, 1980.
Envisioned to Become a
Permanent Shrine
Father Spiro envisioned that
the Parish could and should become a permanent Shrine, dedicated to the
healing, Saint Nectarios. He went to Aegina, Greece on September 3, 1979
and relics were given to him for
our parish by Metropolitan Hierotheos of
Hydra, Spetsae and Aigina,
with co-approval by the nuns of the Convent of the Holy Trinity (or as it
is commonly called today – of St. Nectarios), which Saint Nectarios had
established and where now his remains repose.
June 6,
1989 – Father Spiro Pieratos gazing at the
Saint Nectarios’ Relic; that he was so instrumental in obtaining from
Aegina, Greece.
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Since that time our parish has
become a shrine with which thousands have made contact for prayer and
healing. The brief but beautiful ceremony took place in the Sanctuary of
the tiny chapel in which all the Relics are now kept in two reliquaries
for veneration. Bringing part of the relics to the United States was a
cherished privilege – “One which I long remember with fond memories” said
Father Spiro Pieratos. The Relic of this humble
Saint now rests in Covina, California, in a temporary Church built in 1980.
Early Annual Greek
Festival of the 1970s
Succession of Services
Upon retirement of Father Spiro
Pieratos, Father Theodore Pantels was assigned to Saint
Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church and Shrine. He served from 1993 until
2004. In 1996, a special blessing was said before breaking ground for our
new church. Father Pantels, Alex Soles,
Building Committee Chairman, and Father
Spiro Pieratos were present.
Building of the New
Church - 1996
Father Ted led our Parish and
completed the building project. People came and people left, but the new
church and shrine of what we have now were built under the guidance of
Father Ted Pantels and the generosity of
brotherhood, local parishioners and with the sustained efforts of
dedicated workers. Father Pantels and Presbytera Panagiota
faithfully served Saint Nectarios parish for eleven years. The church was
consecrated on November 7, 2004 with the help of Father Ted Pantels and the newly assigned priest, Father Peter Stratos.
The Consecration of
the New Church - 2004
The
Consecration Banquet 2004
Father Peter Stratos served
from 2004 to 2006. Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco
assigned Father Konstantinos Douvikas, who
served Saint Nectarios parish from 2007 and still serving up to present
time.
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Services:
Sunday Morning Liturgy
9:00 AM Orthros
10:00 AM Liturgy
Wednesday
Paraklesis (service)
to Saint Nectarios 7:00 PM
Church is open:
Monday thru Friday
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday:
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Our services are in
Greek & English
Office Hours:
9:00 AM – 4:00
PM
Email Address:
stnectarioschurch@gmail.com
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St. Nectarios’ Relic
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St. Nectarios Shrine
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About Saint
Nectarios’ Relic
The size of the
Relic is rather large, the length of a man’s finger, from fingertip to
the knuckle, it is actually one of the Saint’s ribs, a rib that “felt”
the Saint’s heartbeat for over 74 years, a heart that throbbed
exclusively with and for the love of Christ. Those who had known the
Saint (there are two recent books of living eye-witness testimonies
edited by Manolis
Melinos)
have lasting recollections of a loving, spiritual Father. Several books
and countless pamphlets and folders on testimonies of his miraculous
cures upon thousands of grateful beneficiaries have been published.
What more do we need in order to believe in the power of God and in the
manifestation of that power in the world and in the lives of countless
faithful Orthodox and some non-Orthodox? In Saint Nectarios we have
wisdom, guidance and counsel, because he lived in our century and is a
living testimony of what true Christianity is and what it should be.
His faith should awaken our faith, His love should kindle our love, His
hope should assure our hope. Holy men and women will always abound.
They strive to bring forth an acute awareness of Christ and His
available presence and intercession for those who believe and who call
upon His name. Everyone has access to holiness and to participation in
miracles through prayer, devotion and faith. The Relic is part of a
holy man who lived a holy life. Many miracles were and are done by
touching even clothing that has come into contact with the Saint’s
body. In the Book of Acts, St. Peter’s shadow was known to heal. May we
all be changed and healed by our spiritual embrace with St. Nectarios.
Doctors heal, but Saints heal miraculously by the power of God. With
trust in the former and faith in the latter, we can live long and
productive lives.
Saint Nectarios
Greek Orthodox Church Became a Shrine
Since 1979, our parish became
a Shrine with which thousands have made contact for prayer and healing.
The St. Nectarios Brotherhood has been growing – its purpose is to help
make known the existence of the Shrine and its work. In June of 1984,
Archbishop Iakovos visited the Shrine and suggested that a Byzantine
church should be built as soon as possible, in order to more properly
enshrine the Relics. With the help of thousands who have love and
respect for the Wonder-Worker, this dream has become a reality - a
refuge where the sick, who cannot go to Aegina, can come or write in
order to receive blessings and prayer for their illnesses. The spirit
of St. Nectarios is far reaching. We know that thousands have been
touched by him in many ways. St. Nectarios’ presence is with us through
his holy Relic and we hope, with your help, to create a lasting, living
center dedicated to that ongoing spiritual intercession of the
Wonder-Worker Saint Nectarios There are a lot of hurting people these
days. Financial pressures, marital problems, illness. As part of a
community of people who believe in God, it's common for someone to ask
that you pray for them or their situation. Won’t you join us every
Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM for the Paraklesis Services to offer
prayers for those ailing people? Your spirit will certainly be
uplifted.
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