Welcome to Saints Constantine and Helen
Greek Orthodox Church

V. Rev. Archimandrite Konstantinos E. Kostaris, Pastor

Church Concecration 1984

Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
614 Oakridge Avenue, Fayetteville, NC 28305
Church:  (910) 484-2010   Hellenic Center:  (910) 484-8925
Fax: (910) 485-5046

Web:  www.stsch.nc.goarch.org
Church Email:  orthodox@nc.rr.com   Father's Email:  frkostas1@nc.rr.com

Parish Council Members

Church Ministries

History Of Our Church

In 1908 we trace the first Greeks in Fayetteville, three brothers; Constantine (Charles), Arthur, and Thomas Havelos. The first Greek business was the Busy Bee Cafe on Market Square on the corner of Green and Person Street. Thomas Havelos was one of its co-owners. Most of the Greeks that followed opened up cafes in the Hay Street area. Notably Steve and Nick Fasul came in 1920 soon operating Steve's Restaurant, next to the old post office. There were many other restaurants run by Greeks: The Central Cafe, owned by Charlie Kalevas and run by Gregory (Harry) Kalevas and Thomas Havelos; The New York Restaurant, run by Mr. James Kanos; the Rainbow Restaurant, run by Mr. Bill Pappas, Mr. John Moutos, Mr. Nick Phillos, and Danny Psillos; and the Royal Palm, run by Mr. Harry Daskal.

For over twenty years Father George Stephanis of the Raleigh parish served our needs. The Greeks of Fayetteville wanted a place of their own. In 1954 the Parish Council and Board of Directors for the Hellenic Community Center, Inc., signed the contract to build the Hellenic Center on the northern edge of Oakridge Avenue.

William Saunders was the architect for the 250' front by 358' deep building which included fellowship hall, classroom and chapel, and porch opening to a spacious lot and stage. Player Construction Company was the builder.

In 1956 the Reverend Kallinikos Hatzilambrou was assigned to Fayetteville and began holding services in a classroom converted to chapel in the front room of the Hellenic Center.

Sadly for our young parish, Father Hatzilambrou passed away. Reverend Papazisis, who had just retired from Jacksonville, Florida to his home in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, was asked to serve our parish until another priest could be found. Services during the holidays were held in the Hellenic Center in front of the stage.

In the summer of 1961 Reverend Chrysostom Manuel, graduated, married, and was ordained. He began his service as a priest in Fayetteville in September 1961. On April 12, 1964, Bishop Aimilianos visited our parish for the groundbreaking ceremonies for our new church building.

On June 17, 1984 our parish was consecrated by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos.

In August of 2000 Reverend Chrysostom Manuel retired and Reverend Dimitrios Moraitis began his service.

The Reverend Dimitrios Moraitis served our parish until July of 2004.  He was called to serve at St. Paraskevi Church in Greenlawn, New York.  On September 1st, 2004, Reverend Konstantinos Kostaris assumed the spiritual leadership of our parish.

The Lives of Sts. Constantine & Helen

Holy, Glorious, Great,
God-Crowned and Equal to the Apostles, Emperor Constantine and Helen

Nameday: May 21

This great and renowned sovereign of  the Christians was the son of  Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the  westernmost parts of the Roman  empire), and of the blessed Helen. He  was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, if which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom).

As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.

Apolytikion
Plagal of the 4th Tone
He beheld the image of Your Cross in the Heavens and, as Paul, he too did not receive the call from men. Your Apostle among Kings placed the care of the Royal City in Your hands. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Loving Lord, keep it ever in peace.

Kontakion
Third Tone
Today, Constantine with his mother Helen present the Cross, the most precious wood. It shames unbelievers. It is a weapon of faithful kings against their adversaries. A great sign has come forth for us which is awesome in battle.

Send An Iconogram for the nameday of Saints Constantine and Helen.

* The Lives of the Saints taken from the Online Chapel of the web site for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

                                   About Our Priest

Fr. Konstantinos (Kostas) Kostaris was born on the beautiful island of Homer, Chios, Greece on April 3, 1950.  He came to the United States after graduating from high school.  He was called by the Lord to serve His people in 1971.  Fr. Kostas enrolled at The Hellenic College Greek Orthodox School in September of 1972.  Fr. Kostaris graduated in 1976 Suma Cum Laude and Valedictorian of his class.  He continued his studies of theology at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology from which he graduated in May of 1979, again, Suma Cum Laude and Valedictorian of the class.

Fr. Kostas was married to the late Eugenia Politis from Amfikeia, Greece in July of 1979, with whom he has two children, Irene (1980) and Evangelos (1982).  On September 4, 1991, Presvytera Eugenia fell asleep in the Lord, the victim of skin cancer, leaving Fr. Kostaris to raise their 10 and 9 year old children by himself.  In 1996 Fr. Kostas requested and was transferred by the late Metropolitan Silas to Maryland so that Irene and Evan could be near their relatives. 

While serving at St. John's in Tampa, FL, Fr. Kostas helped the parish double their stewardship and festival income.  He also helped them build a new 19,000 square foot, state of the art, educational facility.  This facility was the only private, church owned and operated K3 - 8th grade school of the Metropolis of Atlanta.  He served as Chairman of the Tampa Bay Hellenic Cultural Association, President of the Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of the Gulf Coast of Florida and a member of the Christian Forum of Tampa.

Fr. Kostas holds a B.A. in Philosophy & Religion, a Master of Divinity in Theology, a Master of Theology in Pastoral Care and Counseling, a PhD in Clinical Pastoral Care and an Ed.D. in Christian Education.  In addition, Fr. Kostas is a state licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Besides Florida, Fr. Kostas has served parishes in Port Jefferson, NY, Perth Amboy, NJ and Lanham, MD.   He is listed in many Who's Who publications including:  Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges & Universities and Who's Who in Christian Leadership in America.

On September 1, 2004, Fr. Kostas came to Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church to serve the spiritual and other needs of the faithful entrusted to his care by Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta.  On October 3, 2004, Fr. Kostas celebrated his 25th Ordination Anniversary into the priesthood with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios officiating.  At the conclusion, Metropolitan Alexios bestowed upon Fr. Kostas the office of the Archimandrite.