THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511180274
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
The ``Holy Rollers'' are on a roll again.
According to Father George I. Paulson, pastor at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox church on First Colonial Road, his flock, which acquired its nickname when it moved into a former disco roller rink in 1982, is preparing to build a new sanctuary.
The congregation won't be moving far. The new building will be adjacent to the existing structure, which will become the church's community center. Plans for the new structure have already been completed and an artist's renderings are on display at the church. The groundbreaking will be soon.
The project, to be completed in five phases, will be on a ``pay as you go'' basis.
``I have an aversion to large mortgages,'' said Paulson.
Total cost of the project is estimated to be $700,000. There is already cash in hand for phase one, the foundation. Phase two, erection of the shell, will cost $250,000, with $200,000 already pledged. The structure should be completed next summer. Phase three consists of outfitting the inside of the new sanctuary with pews and other appurtenances. Completion costs for the first three phases are expected to be $450,000.
Phase four involves renovation of the present building; phase five, landscaping of the complex.
The church was organized in Nov. 1980 and held its first Sunday worship service in May 1981. At that time, the congregation comprised between 40 and 50 families, and services were originally held at Plaza Junior High School. In early 1982, the church took possession of the 2-year-old defunct roller rink, where the first service was conducted on Valentine's Day 1982. Regular members now number 200 families, according to Paulson, who places the church's fellowship - members plus casual attendees and those who participate in the various programs offered by the church - at around 300 families.
The new sanctuary will be able to accommodate 400 people although a crowd of about 300 will fit more comfortably.
The church expects to add another service.
Tradition in the Greek Orthodox church prevents a priest from conducting more than one liturgy, or worship service, per day. Previously, St. Nicholas had a second priest, but he received a promotion within the church organization and moved to Denver. Paulson anticipates a search for a successor.
``One of the unique things about our church,'' he explained, ``is that we are probably the pioneer in worship completely in the English language'' among Greek Orthodox congregations.
St. Nicholas' services are conducted in English although the choir makes some responses in Greek and the consecration of the communion elements is in both languages. Biblical Greek, he said, is quite different from modern Greek.
About 85 percent of the congregation, he said, has no former connection with the Greek Orthodox faith. Many have come in through intermarriage, others through some connection with members or simply as a result of partaking in the worship experience at the church.
Over the past eight to 10 years, Paulson said, the church had been hoping to move to another area of the city, but the plans never worked out.
``We finally gave up. What appeared to be a bad break or obstacle was something the Lord was trying to tell us,'' Paulson said.
The church sold its other property and banked the proceeds. Since the property adjacent to the present church was owned and paid for, members were asking, ``Why go elsewhere?''
The new sanctuary will be built at a right angle to the existing structure and will face south, toward Donna Drive.
This project is Paulson's second experience with church-building. While serving for 30 years as a Navy chaplain, he became involved with a church in Lewiston, Maine. There, as here, he proposed proceeding in phases. MEMO: Divine Liturgy, the Sunday worship service at St. Nicholas, is conducted
weekly at 10 a.m. Orthros, a pre-service meditation, is at 9 a.m.;
Sunday school meets at 10:30 a.m.; the Greek Orthodox Youth Association
meets once a month, usually from 4 to 6 p.m. on the first Sunday of each
month. St. Nicholas also sponsors a Young Adult League. Call Mary Lou
Ambrose, church secretary, at 422-5600.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by Dawson Mills of a drawing
The new building will be adjacent to the existing structure.
by CNB