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  KORAES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

1927-1947

    Rebuilding the parish of SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church under the spiritual guidance of Father Mark E. Petrakis tested the resolve of the parishioners. Thus began a new journey with trials of faith.  While construction of the new church structure was taking place, the community conducted worship services at the Episcopal Church of All Angels at 61^st and Indiana Avenue.

     The approximate cost of the building project was $250,000.  It was decided that the final edifice would be on a larger and grander scale than the one reduced to ashes.  The community thus embarked on a major fundraising drive in order to rebuild both the church and school.  Various fundraising events were held under the direction of the building committee.  In addition, many community organizations offered their help, such as: the Knights of St. Constantine; the Ladies Hellenic Society “Nea Genea;” Woodlawn Chapter No. 93 of the Order of Ahepa. 

     With the help of the entire community and all Chicago in general, the cornerstone of the new church was laid within a year and a half.  An impressive ceremony was held on October 1, 1927.  One year later the structure was completed and His Eminence Archbishop Alexander officiated at the Thyranoixia (Door Opening) Ceremony on October 14, 1928.  The new life at SS. Constantine and Helen was made possible with the cooperation, generosity and support of the parishioners.     

      In 1927, Mr. George Dimopoulos arrived at the parish to become the psalti (cantor).  He was a talented chanter and choirmaster.  Looking toward the future, he was most instrumental in implementing many positive features that are still in place today.  Understanding the importance of hymnology in the church services, he formed the Senior Choir.  This marked the first female choir in the Diocese of Chicago.  They sang the Byzantine music composed by Mr. Dimopoulos.  His music would become timeless and a permanent part of the parish.  His compositions are still sung today.

     Young women felt proud that they were able to play an active role during the Divine Liturgy and other church services.  To recognize the importance of their role, the senior choir would file into the church following an altar boy carrying a cross prior to the Doxologia.  They were then seated before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy.

     This church would also be the first to have a permanent organ to accompany the choir and permanent pews.  These two innovations were a drastic departure from traditional Greek Orthodox Churches and a movement toward the Americanization of the Church that was gradually beginning to take place.

     While the new church edifice was being constructed, life at Koraes continued.  The use of empty storefronts owned by a parishioner at 61^st and Indiana Avenue were donated as temporary facilities for the school.  Desks were placed in the storefronts.  There was a potbelly stove available, and an elderly Greek man would cook meals and provide lunch for the students.

     The new church edifice itself was a basilica style structure modeled after the early Christian churches of Roman times.  The new structure exemplified simplicity. The altar proper was separated from the sanctuary with an evenly proportioned altar screen.  A wooden communion rail divided the sanctuary from the church proper.  Two rows of columns separated the nave into three parts. The icons and religious paintings, which covered the walls and ceilings of the church, were copies of famous works by El Greco, Raphael and Michelangelo. A separate Baptistry Chapel was built adjoining the main church.  The new church not only evolved into one of the most beautiful Greek Orthodox churches of its time, but also became an innovative influence for future churches.  

     A bell tower was constructed on the church premises.  The responsibility of ringing the bell fell to the seventh and eighth grade students of Koraes Elementary School.  The ringing of the bell was their responsibility Monday through Friday.  The students receiving this honor performed their duty diligently.  They climbed to the top of the tower and rang the bell to announce the start of any church service and the beginning of the school day.  On Saturday and Sunday, the neokoro (caretaker) had the responsibility of ringing the bell for church services. 

     The classrooms for Koraes Elementary School were designed along the periphery of the main building. The new school facility had seven large classrooms, a lunchroom and an auditorium. This was to recognize the commitment by the parish to educate their children in an all day school in the English and Greek languages.  A night school was also held for those children who were unable to attend the day school.   Since the streetcar was the mode of transportation for the majority of the students and parishioners of the parish, the mothers would gather in the hall and wait to take their children home at 6:00 p.m. when night school was over.  With the classrooms being on the ground level, some of the boys would jump out of the window and run away when they should have been in class. At the time, tuition for 3 children in a family was $10.00 a month.  The school kept the children together and many long-term friendships and bonds were formed.

     The students would present theatrical productions, plays and operettas to the community, both in Greek and English. The costumes were elaborate and detailed.  During the Greek presentations celebrating OXI day and the 25^th of March, poems were dramatically recited on stage heralding the feats of Greek heroes, such as Kolokotrones.  The mothers would curl the hair of the girls.  The boys and girls would dress in the festive costumes of Greece.  At school, the Koraes students participated in a Drum and Bugle Corps complete with uniforms and instruments.

     The young ladies served as Myrofores on Good Friday.  They would practice many hours until they learned all the hymns.  Mr. Dimopoulos wanted the girls to have long hair.  In addition, they would practice where to stand and how to move about as expected. 

      The celebration of the Epiphany was a special event in the community. To symbolize the Holy Spirit, Father Petrakis would release a dove within the church during the Blessing of the Waters service as he chanted “ En Iorthani Vaptizete.” (As you were Baptized in the Jordan O Lord)  This was to the delight of all the children present in the church.  When receiving Holy Communion, the parishioners would kneel at the communion rail and wait their turn so they would not crowd up the steps to the Solea.

     During the Dance of Isaiah at a wedding ceremony, family members would throw koufeta.  This practice was stopped and flower petals were thrown instead.  At the time, this was the only parish to do this.  In addition, newlyweds would come with a tray, which held a handkerchief and flower for the bride.  Father Petrakis would present the newlyweds with a Bible after the Sacrament of Marriage.  

     As a sign of the times, women wore hats and gloves to church throughout the year.  During the holidays, parishioners were sprinkled with fragrant cologne at the pangari. Once a month, a dance would be held at the church with no youth in attendance.  This was a way for the adults to socialize. 

      Every Sunday after church, a man was outside selling huge koulouria.  In their excitement, the children would run outside to purchase one.  During the holidays, various items would be sold. The most popular were cinnamon koulouria.  They were sold for ten cents.  All other cookies were sold for only five cents each.  

       During this time of reconstruction, the parish faced many difficult challenges. Due to the financial pressure brought about by the Great Depression, the community found itself in the position to file bankruptcy proceedings.  This resulted in the parish having to default on building construction bonds.

     As a result of the difficulty faced by the community, positive results took place.  This period promoted lay leadership that was resourceful and tenacious.  Conditions of the parish greatly improved because of a long process of economic development and progress in which the community reached a high level of efficiency and service. 

     Under the spiritual guidance of Father Mark Petrakis the community was motivated to establish and develop a variety of church auxiliaries.  Presvytera Stella Petrakis was also quite dedicated and active in her service to the community of SS. Constantine and Helen.  She taught Sunday School in Greek to newly arrived immigrants to Chicago. Whether it was selling raffle tickets to benefit the community, organizing the Red Cross, visiting the poor, or working within the various organizations, she was an inspiration to all.

      In 1929, Father Petrakis organized the Koraes Mothers Society for the Koraes Elementary School, the Afternoon Greek School and the Sunday School. The group provided support and aid in the form of free textbooks, lunch programs and tuition payments for indigent children. During the Great Depression of the 1930's the  help of the Mothers Society was crucial in keeping these schools open. 

      The St. Helen’s Benevolent Society organized a Theatre Guild.  This group annually sponsored a wide variety of dramatic performances conducted in Greek for the benefit of the parish institutions.  In the 1930's the St. Helen's Benevolent Society became a chapter of the National Philoptochos movement and became known as the St. Helen’s  Philoptochos Society.  Throughout the years, St. Helen's has expanded its philanthropic mission and fundraising efforts for the parish.

     Nea Genea (currently called Ladies Hellenic Society Agia Parasakevi) went through some problems in the 1930's due to dwindling membership and ceased to be active.  This was a result of the young ladies getting married.  When an attempt was made to reorganize the group, it was unsuccessful because only unmarried women could be members. Father Petrakis revitalized the organization in 1937 by eliminating the marriage restriction clause.  The group began to prosper once again and became active in its fundraising efforts to render financial assistance to the church.    

     In 1937, changes took place at Koraes.  Seventh and eighth grades were added, which followed what was taking place in the public schools.  The curriculum was reorganized and departmentalized.  English became the chief language used at the school.            

      In 1941, the United States entered World War II.  Many young men of the parish were called to serve their country.  Father Petrakis began a tradition of recognizing their service to our country by presenting a cross to each young man on the Sunday prior to his deployment.  This act was a way to honor each man for his service and keep him connected to the church.

      The parish joined the national war effort by engaging in a number of patriotic activities, which included the sale of defense bonds, paper drives and Greek War Relief programs. The parish published a book with pictures of each soldier who had served during the war.  This book was also a fundraiser for the parish. It included advertisements, lists of people who made donations to the community, financial statements of the parish, and various pictures of the parish life.  It was printed in both Greek and English.

      The first establishment of a SS. Constantine and Helen Red Cross Unit took place in 1942 during the height of the war years.  Numerous women of the community, a total of 100 at its peak, met twice weekly preparing needed surgical and medical supplies.  A younger group of working girls met weekly in the evening.  In addition, this Red Cross Unit donated blood plasma en masse to the Red Cross Blood Bank on three separate occasions.  This unit received a commendation from the American Red Cross Association for its significant contribution to the war effort.  In 1946, this unit was reorganized.  The young ladies of the community met weekly, making surgical bandages in order to supply the needs of area veterans’ hospitals.

This article was originally published in the Saints Constantine and Helen Church 100th Anniversary Commemorative Album