Pomona
California
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Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church is a parish established "to proclaim, pure and undefiled, the Orthodox Christian Faith and traditions in conformity with the doctrine, canons, worship, disciplines, usage and customs of the Orthodox Christian Church including adherence to the traditional Orthodox (Julian) Calendar" - By-Laws Part 1, Section 2. Our parish is under the jurisdiction of the Holy Orthodox Church in North America‚ which is affiliated with the True Orthodox Church of Greece, also following the traditional ecclesiastical calendar of the Orthodox Church (commonly know as the "Old" or "Julian" calendar). Our bishop is His Grace, Metropolitan Moses and our priest is Father Nicholas Liberis.
The Church serves the local residents of Pomona, California, it's neighboring cities as well as those as far East as Riverside, San Bernardino and the Desert, San Diego to the South, the coastal cities and Los Angeles area to the West and families up to Bakersfield in the North. Our congregation includes a variety of nationalities, as is typical of the landscape of Southern California. Services are held in both Greek and English, using traditional Byzantine hymns and chant. Sunday school is also provided for our youth and is taught by many kind and professional teachers.
In the winter of 1981, Father Nicholas Liberis announced to the Greek Archdiocese parish of Saint Anthony in Pasadena, California, that he could no longer serve under the leadership of the Greek Archdiocese because of its involvement in ecumenism and other non-Orthodox practices. This was not an easy decision for a priest who was nurtured, ordained (Holy Cross Seminary 1966), and served faithfully in the Greek Archdiocese which provided him and his family with a generous income, and a multitude of devout parishioners and good friends. Yet, when confronted with the command to serve with several non-orthodox clergy, which is in violation of the Church’s Holy Canons, Father Nicholas refused and denounced the unholy order. Although Father was tempted by the leadership of the Greek Archdiocese and many of its clergy to remain loyal, he in clear conscience could not support the unholy decisions and actions that had been made. As a result, Father Nicholas left the Greek Archdiocese jurisdiction.
Father Nicholas petitioned and was accepted by Archbishop Anthony and Metropolitan Philaret of blessed memory, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) who, at the time, represented one of the few remaining traditional Orthodox Christian jurisdictions. Father began holding services at his home with just a handful of parishioners who also sought to worship and celebrate the confession of faith as instructed by the Holy Fathers. Soon a number of Greek families who were "Old Calendarists" from Greece, and had not joined the Archdiocese upon arriving in the United States, heard of the Greek priest that was now serving according to the Orthodox tradition that they had upheld. They rejoiced, since they were now able to partake in confession, communion and the other Holy Sacraments, which for many years were only available at the Russian Churches. Within a few weeks Father's house was filled with new faces, in addition to those who also left the Archdiocese, piously attending Church services with fervor and zeal for the Holy Faith.
Archbishop Anthony then granted Father Nicholas the use of the then vacant church of Saint Andrew's in Glendora, California. Russian Orthodox immigrants who had fled persecution under Communism in order to preserve their faith had founded the old church decades ago; but as time passed the original patrons had passed on or moved away, leaving the church vacant. Father Nicholas and his followers rejoiced at this generous gift, which had an ample lot with a hall and classrooms. For the next four years the parish flourished as Greeks, Russians and converts of diverse nationalities gave praise and worship to Christ our God according to the true Orthodox tradition. But, as the evil of this world does not rest, the availability of the old church would not last.
In November 1985 Metropolitan Philaret of blessed memory reposed. With the ascent of Archbishop Vitaly of Montreal to the position of First Hierarch of the ROCOR, a new, more liberal church policy, contrary to Metropolitan Philaret’s, was inaugurated and lead to a separation from the ROCOR of several monasteries and parishes in the United States, Canada, and France, including Saint Nectarios of Seattle as well as our parish of Saint Andrew. This group protested the reports of nearly 20 con-celebrations of ROCOR clergy with ecumenist clergy of the "canonical" jurisdictions. The fact that the Synod repeatedly ignored these ecumenist actions convinced us that the Russian Synodal bishops would not reprimand those guilty. The protesting clergy then petitioned two Greek hierarchs, Metropolitan Gabriel and Metropolitan Akakios, who were inactive members of Archbishop Auxentius’ Synod, to be received by them. They did accept us in December, 1986. In July, 1987, we chose to go directly under Archbishop Auxentius, since he was the First Hierarch of the Old Calendarist Orthodox Church in Greece. He received us most graciously. The following year Father Ephraim of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Massachusetts, was ordained to the episcopate as Bishop of Boston and our parish became under his jurisdiction. Since the Synod of ROCOR owned the property, and we no longer recognized their authority, we were asked to leave the Church of Saint Andrew.
During the next few years the faithful celebrated services at various houses of it's parishioners while searching for property to build a church. The task of determining where to build the church was not easy as the parishioners were spread across a large area of Southern California. High property prices and zoning regulations were also a hindrance in finding a central yet suitable location. The parishioners prayed to Saints Demetrios and Phanourios to help them find a place to build their church. By the grace of God a lot was found in Pomona, California and, with the generous donations and loans of parishioners and friends, this property was purchased in 1990 and building began. Saint Demetrios was chosen as the patron of our parish to pay tribute to the defender of the Lord that he may pray on are behalf for God's love, guidance and mercy.
Years later, the humble Church of Saint Demetrios, having struggled through divisive factions and financial setbacks, survives by the Grace of God and the faithful zeal of it's members. The Icon Screen (Iconostasis) was hand carved by one of our members and the Icons which adorn it are hand painted by the nuns of Holy Nativity Convent in Brookline, Massachusetts. A nun of our parish looks after the grounds of our Church and heads our philanthropic endeavors. As many of the elderly parishioners pass on, their children and grandchildren, together with our new members, continue their steadfast faith.
The Church serves the local residents of Pomona, California, it's neighboring cities as well as those as far East as Riverside, San Bernardino and the Desert, San Diego to the South, the coastal cities and Los Angeles area to the West and families up to Bakersfield in the North. Our congregation includes a variety of nationalities, as is typical of the landscape of Southern California. Services are held in both Greek and English, using traditional Byzantine hymns and chant. Sunday school is also provided for our youth and is taught by many kind and professional teachers.
In the winter of 1981, Father Nicholas Liberis announced to the Greek Archdiocese parish of Saint Anthony in Pasadena, California, that he could no longer serve under the leadership of the Greek Archdiocese because of its involvement in ecumenism and other non-Orthodox practices. This was not an easy decision for a priest who was nurtured, ordained (Holy Cross Seminary 1966), and served faithfully in the Greek Archdiocese which provided him and his family with a generous income, and a multitude of devout parishioners and good friends. Yet, when confronted with the command to serve with several non-orthodox clergy, which is in violation of the Church’s Holy Canons, Father Nicholas refused and denounced the unholy order. Although Father was tempted by the leadership of the Greek Archdiocese and many of its clergy to remain loyal, he in clear conscience could not support the unholy decisions and actions that had been made. As a result, Father Nicholas left the Greek Archdiocese jurisdiction.
Father Nicholas petitioned and was accepted by Archbishop Anthony and Metropolitan Philaret of blessed memory, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) who, at the time, represented one of the few remaining traditional Orthodox Christian jurisdictions. Father began holding services at his home with just a handful of parishioners who also sought to worship and celebrate the confession of faith as instructed by the Holy Fathers. Soon a number of Greek families who were "Old Calendarists" from Greece, and had not joined the Archdiocese upon arriving in the United States, heard of the Greek priest that was now serving according to the Orthodox tradition that they had upheld. They rejoiced, since they were now able to partake in confession, communion and the other Holy Sacraments, which for many years were only available at the Russian Churches. Within a few weeks Father's house was filled with new faces, in addition to those who also left the Archdiocese, piously attending Church services with fervor and zeal for the Holy Faith.
Archbishop Anthony then granted Father Nicholas the use of the then vacant church of Saint Andrew's in Glendora, California. Russian Orthodox immigrants who had fled persecution under Communism in order to preserve their faith had founded the old church decades ago; but as time passed the original patrons had passed on or moved away, leaving the church vacant. Father Nicholas and his followers rejoiced at this generous gift, which had an ample lot with a hall and classrooms. For the next four years the parish flourished as Greeks, Russians and converts of diverse nationalities gave praise and worship to Christ our God according to the true Orthodox tradition. But, as the evil of this world does not rest, the availability of the old church would not last.
In November 1985 Metropolitan Philaret of blessed memory reposed. With the ascent of Archbishop Vitaly of Montreal to the position of First Hierarch of the ROCOR, a new, more liberal church policy, contrary to Metropolitan Philaret’s, was inaugurated and lead to a separation from the ROCOR of several monasteries and parishes in the United States, Canada, and France, including Saint Nectarios of Seattle as well as our parish of Saint Andrew. This group protested the reports of nearly 20 con-celebrations of ROCOR clergy with ecumenist clergy of the "canonical" jurisdictions. The fact that the Synod repeatedly ignored these ecumenist actions convinced us that the Russian Synodal bishops would not reprimand those guilty. The protesting clergy then petitioned two Greek hierarchs, Metropolitan Gabriel and Metropolitan Akakios, who were inactive members of Archbishop Auxentius’ Synod, to be received by them. They did accept us in December, 1986. In July, 1987, we chose to go directly under Archbishop Auxentius, since he was the First Hierarch of the Old Calendarist Orthodox Church in Greece. He received us most graciously. The following year Father Ephraim of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Massachusetts, was ordained to the episcopate as Bishop of Boston and our parish became under his jurisdiction. Since the Synod of ROCOR owned the property, and we no longer recognized their authority, we were asked to leave the Church of Saint Andrew.
During the next few years the faithful celebrated services at various houses of it's parishioners while searching for property to build a church. The task of determining where to build the church was not easy as the parishioners were spread across a large area of Southern California. High property prices and zoning regulations were also a hindrance in finding a central yet suitable location. The parishioners prayed to Saints Demetrios and Phanourios to help them find a place to build their church. By the grace of God a lot was found in Pomona, California and, with the generous donations and loans of parishioners and friends, this property was purchased in 1990 and building began. Saint Demetrios was chosen as the patron of our parish to pay tribute to the defender of the Lord that he may pray on are behalf for God's love, guidance and mercy.
Years later, the humble Church of Saint Demetrios, having struggled through divisive factions and financial setbacks, survives by the Grace of God and the faithful zeal of it's members. The Icon Screen (Iconostasis) was hand carved by one of our members and the Icons which adorn it are hand painted by the nuns of Holy Nativity Convent in Brookline, Massachusetts. A nun of our parish looks after the grounds of our Church and heads our philanthropic endeavors. As many of the elderly parishioners pass on, their children and grandchildren, together with our new members, continue their steadfast faith.