New church opens its doors with plenty of promise, pride

Because of the crowds, it took Jacqueline Star nearly an hour to get inside to see the new St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Waukegan.

Star was among nearly 700 people who came to the church's opening ceremony Sunday morning, which was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos, the archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago.

As a lifelong member of St. Demetrios, Star of Lake Forest had conflicting emotions about the new building.

"It's magnificent and just doesn't compare to the old church," she said. "But I was baptized there in 1970 and knowing it is no longer there is heartbreaking."

Before the service, Iakovos presided over a door-opening ceremony and put relics of the saints brought from the former church onto the new alter.

Longtime member Irene Keeling of Paddock Lake, Wis., said seeing the same relics in the new church, gives parishioners a familiar feeling of home.

"It is a lot bigger, but inside it looks similar to the church we are used to, which is nice," Keeling said.

In April 2006, church officials broke ground on the new parish building at 1400 N. O'Plaine Road, just south of Route 120. The church has owned the land for 25 years.

"We wanted to move so we would be more convenient to our members," said Nick Camacaris, president of the parish council, noting that many of parishioners live in western Lake County.

Fundraising efforts are still under way to pay for the $6.6 million church.

Demitri Fardelos chairman the new development committee, said so far about one-third of the money has been raised.

St. Demetrios serves more than 250 families and the new 9,500 square-foot sanctuary can accommodate about 500 people, Camacaris said.

The most identifiable and impressive part of the church is the 75-foot Byzantine-style gold dome, which is visible from O'Plaine Road and the Tri-State Tollway.

"The church is fifth century style and we worked very hard to choose a design that people could see and be proud of, but that also kept with Orthodox tradition," Fardelos said.

St. Demetrios was established in Waukegan in 1929.

The old building, at North and Glen Flora avenues, was sold to another church in November. Since then, services have been held in the fellowship hall adjacent to the new church.

Dina Rios of Gurnee said the last four months have been difficult in the crowded fellowship hall.

"We've been anxiously awaiting the opening," Rios said. "And the church is just beautiful."

Star said she hopes the new church will attract more stewards to the parish.

"It's a new beginning," she said. "Looking around today, I see a lot of new faces and, of course, there are all of the old timers, like me."