Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-07
GREEKS TO LAY CORNER STONE
OF NEW CHURCH TOMORROW
Erection of St. Sophia Notable Event With
Orthodox Group-Edihce to Be of Ira
ditional Byzantine Architecture.

A most notable event for the many
Greeks of this city and elsewhere
in this country, which will mark an
important point in their spiritual as
pirations. will be the erection in this
city at the northeast corner of Sth
and l. streets of the Greek Orthodox
church of st. Sophia. the corner stone
OF which is to be laid at / O'Clock to-
| morrow afternoon with accompanying
ceremonies.
ton with the laying of the corner
stone will be held at $50 o'clock to-
morrow morning in Pythian Temple.
The ceremonies of laying the stone
| will be at l o'clock. and will be laid
by the Bishop of the Greek Church,
| Alexander Rodostolou. The Greek
minister to the United States. NJ.
George RouSsoS, is to deliver the ora
ton. Victor Kissal of this city is the
president of the Greek community,
| and DR.. Vasilios Lambridis is their
pastor.
Ever since the world war began
the Gree Es throughout the world
have had visions of recovering what
to them are the most sacred places
from the Turk, and no place more
sacred and revered than the marvel
Gus Church of st. Sophia, in Constan-
tinople, which was built by the great
emperor of the eastern Roman en-
pire, Justinian, in the fifth century.
1t was taken from them by the Turks
in the fifteenth century and has
mosque. 1t is now declared there is
an excellent chance that before many
weeks pass it may again become a
Christian church.
Hope for Restoration.
There is strong religious faith
among the Greeks resident here,
which. it is declared amounts to
conviction. that this church. which
they have begun. and which bears
the same name as the great church
in Constantinople. has fate closely
linked with it. In fact, they firmly
believe that st. Sophia in CONSTANT
nople, the World Greek Orthodox Ca
thedral in Constantinople, will be a
Christian church once more, and the
noble Gregorian music will be sung
under its magnificent dome. by the
time the st. Sophia of Washington
D. c., which is destined to be Greek
Orthodox cathedral of the United
States. is completed.
Description OF Edificc.
The church is designed to seat 500
in the main auditorium. The main
floor is ten feet above the street level,
which allows for a large room with
various accessories, toilets and heat
ling plant on the ground floor. which
will eventually be used for parochial
school purposes, but at present it will
he used for the congregation as well
until such time as the superstructure
is completed.
The but ding when finished will. it
is declared, adhere to the traditional
Architecture of Greek Orthodox
churches Of Greece and Asia Minor of
the fifth to the tenth centuries-that
is. of the Byzantine period. In plain
II Is a Greek cross with the place of
the holy table, the Prothesis and the
lDiaconicon. in the eastern end. The
entrance is on the west, and at the
/ intersection of the legs of the cross
there is a dome which rises from four
massive piers, and on the exterior
dominates the roof line.
The nave and transept are barrel
vaults, the side aisles being also bar