Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-12

The Greek colony in New York has
been growing rapidly in the past few
years. When Prince George visited
here last summer the Greeks found To
their surprise that they were a thous-
and strong. Then they thought what
an excellent thing it would be to have
a society. The society was formed in
a small room in a small restaurant on
Roosevelt street, and Scion Vlasto and
A. c. EvaHgelides were made a preSi-
dent and secretary.
1--WE are strong enough to have a
church" said Mr.. Evangelides. "They
have a church in San Francisco. Let
us have one" So he wrote TO the
Archbishop MethodiuS OF syria, Greece,
aud the Archbishop conferred with a
dignitarY at Athens, and the dignitary
AZ Athens wrote TO the Patriarch OF
COnStantinOple, and the Patriarch said:
''To be sure. They must have priest.
As IL is their souls are in peril"
As all this negotiation was done rap
idly, the Athena Society Of New York
had to bestir Itself to prepare for the
priest. They engaged the basement Of
the German-SWiss Evangelical Church
at $40 West Fifty-third street, and set
plssterers to plastering, and painters to
painting, and carpenters TO building.
But the priest was TOO quick for
them. He got here Monday night on
La NOrmandie, and was received with
demonstrations Of great Joy by Mr..
Vlasto, Mr.. Eysngelides, Mr.. Fachiri,
Mr.. Rail-, and many others. He was in
full uniform, and made glad the hearts
Of the Greeks on this account.
The Rev. Paisius FerendinOs, Archi-
mandrlte Of the Greek Church of New
York, was born on the island Of PatmOS,
within a few hours walk of that cave
IN which st. John the Divine is supposed
TO have seen the visions he wrote down
in Revelations. He had an inclination
TO the priesthood early in life, and,
when he was still boy, he entered the
royal monastery of st. John, which
crowns the island Of PatmOs with great
walls, built $50 years ago above
the cave OF the ApOcalypses. He
went TO the Theological School on the
island of Colchis, near ConstantinOple,
and then back TO the monastery, where
he taught Greek to the youth OF PatmOs.
For two years he served as deacon TO
the patriarchate Of Alexandria, and In
1855 was ordained q priest by the
Patriarch SOphronios. Since that time
he has been librarian and assistant
chaplain at the Pizarisn Theological
School at Athens.
The Rev PaisiuS FerendinOS IS short
of stature and probably quite Slenderly
built, although at first glance ne seems
70 be fat. He wears atop his head
tall-dark brown cylindrical hat, Ike
huge spool with the lower end sawed
OF. In this hat he keeps his hair,
which is straight and soft and brown,
and but for the hat and the hairpins
he wears il would fall in a beautiful
shower 10 his waist.
The face that looks out at you from
behind the beard and mOuStacheS, the
heavy eyebrows and the blue glasses Is
mild and pleasant and most Intelligent
The voice is soft and cultured, and you
feel at once that Father FerendinoS IS
gentleman Of the type which is not con-
fined to any nation or century. de
speaks ancient and modern Greek,
French, Italian, and Arabic. He Is
studving English, but as yet does not
venture to speak a single word OF H.
According to the rule in the Greek
Church a married man who becomes
priest retains his family relations, out
a single man entering the priesthood
must never marry. Father ForendinoS
was not married when he entered the
ministry, and he will therefore never
marry.
His congregation had hoped to have
the church ready by sunday, but MI
EvangelideS thinks there is little chance
for this. Sunday next or the Sunday
after the church will be consecrated
and the first service will be held. The
aDpearance of an orthodox Greek church
IS little different from Roman church
except that the altar is screened. In
the screen is a door which opens and
shuts in different pars of the service.
When the door is open the altar IS IN
DIain view. This is after the plan OF
the Holy OF HOLES in the Hebrew tenn
ple.