By The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church
June 21, 2024, 10:36 am
June 21, 2024, 10:36 am
The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church Santa Cruz CA
95060We found 3 more Orthodox Church in America churches near Santa Cruz
Who we are
Mission Statement
Be an inclusive community living the Orthodox Christian Faith and providing a place of prayer and devotion for those seeking the truth of God.
Be an inclusive community living the Orthodox Christian Faith and providing a place of prayer and devotion for those seeking the truth of God.
The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church Q&A
Question: Is there a dress code?
Answer: The general rule for men and women is to dress appropriately, modestly and respectfully, because we stand before God. Visitors however wear everything from jeans to suits, long dresses to skirts, t-shirts to shirts with ties, dress shoes to sneakers. We ask, however, that you do not wear beach attire, such as, shorts, mini-skirts, tank tops, low-cut or strapless dresses. Some Orthodox women wear head coverings, but this is not required. Men are asked not to wear hats, such as baseball caps.Question: Can non-Orthodox receive Holy Communion?
Answer: Some denominations allow their parishioners to receive communion outside their churches. Orthodox Christians are NOT permitted to receive communion in Non-Orthodox Churches. Only Orthodox may take Holy Communion in an Orthodox church. Those baptized members in good standing of the canonical Orthodox Church, who have recently confessed and fasted before partaking of Holy Communion. But all may receive a portion of the common loaf (antithoron) from the priest at the end of the liturgy. Church Address
223 Church Street
Santa Cruz,
CA
95060
United States
Phone: (831) 429-6500
Fax: (831) 429-5604
Download The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church vCard with Service Times
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Denomination
Orthodox Church in America
Orthodox Church in America churches in Santa Cruz, CA
Orthodox Church in America churches in California
Orthodox Church in America churches in United States
Orthodox Church in America churches near me
All churches in Santa Cruz, CA
Affiliations
Church Website
The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church on Social Media
YouTube Video: Orthros and Divine Liturgy - The Fourth of February, 2024
Leadership
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(831) 429-5604
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Driving Directions
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Parking
Do not ever park in Cruzio’s private lot adjacent to the church. They tow.
Street parking meters work 7 days a week, 8AM-8PM. Bring coins.
Parking lots and garages offer all-day parking. Use credit or ATM cards at the kiosks to pay for a numbered space at Locust Street garage and Soquel/Front Street garage.
Purchase a City ParkCard to use at the parking meters or pay-by-space lots. At the parking meters you can feed the meter to the daily maximum and when you return your unused time is refunded back to your ParkCard. Make sure you park completely within the parking space markings. http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showdocument?id=2491
Sign up for Parkmobile pay-by-phone system. One call to start your parking session and another call to end your session. You only pay for the time you park. Make sure you park completely within the parking space markings. http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showdocument?id=2491
FREE Sunday parking along the Santa Cruz City Hall Offices on one-way Locust Street. Access best from Chestnut Street.
Street parking meters work 7 days a week, 8AM-8PM. Bring coins.
Parking lots and garages offer all-day parking. Use credit or ATM cards at the kiosks to pay for a numbered space at Locust Street garage and Soquel/Front Street garage.
Purchase a City ParkCard to use at the parking meters or pay-by-space lots. At the parking meters you can feed the meter to the daily maximum and when you return your unused time is refunded back to your ParkCard. Make sure you park completely within the parking space markings. http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showdocument?id=2491
Sign up for Parkmobile pay-by-phone system. One call to start your parking session and another call to end your session. You only pay for the time you park. Make sure you park completely within the parking space markings. http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showdocument?id=2491
FREE Sunday parking along the Santa Cruz City Hall Offices on one-way Locust Street. Access best from Chestnut Street.
The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church Service Times
9:00 AM Sunday Orthros
10:00 AM Sunday Divine Liturgy
Sunday School - Summer Vacation
12:00 PM Sunday, Fellowship after Divine Liturgy
6:00 PM Paraklesis - TBD
6:00 PM Vespers - TBD
It's been more than 12 months since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
10:00 AM Sunday Divine Liturgy
Sunday School - Summer Vacation
12:00 PM Sunday, Fellowship after Divine Liturgy
6:00 PM Paraklesis - TBD
6:00 PM Vespers - TBD
It's been more than 12 months since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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Worship Languages
Dress Code
The general rule for men and women is to dress appropriately, modestly and respectfully, because we stand before God. Visitors however wear everything from jeans to suits, long dresses to skirts, t-shirts to shirts with ties, dress shoes to sneakers. We ask, however, that you do not wear beach attire, such as, shorts, mini-skirts, tank tops, low-cut or strapless dresses. Some Orthodox women wear head coverings, but this is not required. Men are asked not to wear hats, such as baseball caps.
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The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church Santa Cruz Photos
The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church - Santa Cruz, California
Great and Holy Pascha 2024
In the wee hours of Sunday, May 5, 2024, Father John Kariotakis brought forth the Light and shouted the first “Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!” in several languages. He led us in the hymn Christos Anesti, three times, which will be chanted at every service for the next 40-days until Holy Pentecost. A joyful day! Christ has resurrected…the tomb is empty! Amin!
In the wee hours of Sunday, May 5, 2024, Father John Kariotakis brought forth the Light and shouted the first “Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!” in several languages. He led us in the hymn Christos Anesti, three times, which will be chanted at every service for the next 40-days until Holy Pentecost. A joyful day! Christ has resurrected…the tomb is empty! Amin!
2024 Palm Sunday
On Sunday April 28, 2024, Father John Takahashi celebrated Christ’s Entrance into Jerusalem, launching our Holy Week. He blessed the woven palm crosses made by our parishioners. Our morning continued in the hall with a very vibrant gathering of parishioners for Fellowship. Amin!
On Sunday April 28, 2024, Father John Takahashi celebrated Christ’s Entrance into Jerusalem, launching our Holy Week. He blessed the woven palm crosses made by our parishioners. Our morning continued in the hall with a very vibrant gathering of parishioners for Fellowship. Amin!
Candle table
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The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church History
Our Parish History
Once Greeks began settling in Santa Cruz County, it became a matter of time before they would be able to have their own church. This took many decades, however, because their numbers were not nearly enough to found and support a church.
All of the Greeks of Santa Cruz County found themselves very far from Greek Orthodox churches in these early years. The nearest were Holy Trinity and the Annunciation in San Francisco, where they attended services from time to time, and especially during great feast days and on the occasion of weddings and baptisms. When the church of the Saint Nicholas opened in San Jose in 1945, many became members and regular churchgoers of that community, and some, like Spiro Mellis, served in the parish council for several years. The few Greeks of Watsonville began churching themselves at Saint John the Baptist church in Salinas once that community opened in 1956.
Until the late 1970s no attempt was made to organize either socially or ecclesiastically. An informal group of Santa Cruz ladies involved themselves in some charitable work in the ‘40s and ‘5Os, but that’s as far as it went. In the late ’40s and ’50s and early ‘60s, intermittent services were held at the Calvary Episcopal Church on Center Street, in Santa Cruz, by priests from Saint Nicholas in San Jose, and at least on three occasions the Paul and Ellen Sandas home was used for Easter Agape services.
The 1970s also saw the influx of a few more Greek Orthodox into Santa Cruz, including Paul Makris, James (Elias) Peterson, the Gryspos family and others. It was the courageous and indefatigable James Peterson, who was to play the leading role in organizing the Greek Orthodox Christians as a community in Santa Cruz County. Jim was from Detroit, Michigan, but had lived in San Jose for years where he was involved as choir director at Saint Nicholas. In 1972, he and his family moved to Santa Cruz.
The Founders original petition was made to Bishop Anthony, of blessed memory.
— Excerpted from The Silver Anniversary of Prophet Elias: Parish History, by Nicholas G. Itsines, Ph.D A Brief History of Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church
1913 – First Greeks began settling in Santa Cruz, California.
1978 – “Yasou” letter was sent out about organizing a church. Orthodox Christians, numbering 125, were identified. The first meeting held. Monies were collected under the name “Greek Orthodox Missionary Church Fund of Santa Cruz County.” The first service held at the Seventh Day Adventist Chapel on November 26th.
Once Greeks began settling in Santa Cruz County, it became a matter of time before they would be able to have their own church. This took many decades, however, because their numbers were not nearly enough to found and support a church.
All of the Greeks of Santa Cruz County found themselves very far from Greek Orthodox churches in these early years. The nearest were Holy Trinity and the Annunciation in San Francisco, where they attended services from time to time, and especially during great feast days and on the occasion of weddings and baptisms. When the church of the Saint Nicholas opened in San Jose in 1945, many became members and regular churchgoers of that community, and some, like Spiro Mellis, served in the parish council for several years. The few Greeks of Watsonville began churching themselves at Saint John the Baptist church in Salinas once that community opened in 1956.
Until the late 1970s no attempt was made to organize either socially or ecclesiastically. An informal group of Santa Cruz ladies involved themselves in some charitable work in the ‘40s and ‘5Os, but that’s as far as it went. In the late ’40s and ’50s and early ‘60s, intermittent services were held at the Calvary Episcopal Church on Center Street, in Santa Cruz, by priests from Saint Nicholas in San Jose, and at least on three occasions the Paul and Ellen Sandas home was used for Easter Agape services.
The Founders original petition was made to Bishop Anthony, of blessed memory.
— Excerpted from The Silver Anniversary of Prophet Elias: Parish History, by Nicholas G. Itsines, Ph.D A Brief History of Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church
1913 – First Greeks began settling in Santa Cruz, California.
1978 – “Yasou” letter was sent out about organizing a church. Orthodox Christians, numbering 125, were identified. The first meeting held. Monies were collected under the name “Greek Orthodox Missionary Church Fund of Santa Cruz County.” The first service held at the Seventh Day Adventist Chapel on November 26th.
The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church Historical Photos
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"Do not make prayer a monologue-make it a conversation."Anon
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223 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA
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