Palm Sunday with Nouna and Nouno in Columbus, Ohio

Nouno and Nouna's Trip to Columbus
by Contributing Writer Elena Kerasiotis

The plans were made, gifts purchased, car loaded and the road trip was to begin, Nouna and Nouno were going to Columbus, Ohio to visit their Godchild, Lauren and her family in their new home just 3 hours and ½ away from Detroit. They had talked about it so many times and yet the trip had taken over the course of seven and half years to happen, yes, they had visited regularly, on Birthdays, Christmas and Easter, but never at Lauren's home. So everyone was very excited to start a new tradition.

Lauren lives with her parents, and her little sister Erica. ("Not Erika, Nouna"). Lauren is in the second grade and Erica is in Kindergarten. Nouna and Nouno were to take the girls to receive communion and to receive their palms. They quietly waited for their turn at the back of the church and practiced their Greek Baptismal Names, Eleftheria Nicoletta and Basiliki Fotini. Each whispered it under their breath in anticipation of Father Economos Kontos' question at the time of Holy Communion. The sign of the cross was made and the sacrament was received solemnly each reciting their name reverently.

Following Communion, the girls went happily to their Sunday School Classrooms. Nouna was able to take photos of Lauren hard at work on her Palm Sunday Project. Following Church the girls led them to the Fellowship Hall where their Easter Projects were proudly displayed.

The girls introduced their out of town visitors to Parish Counsel Member, Glenna Tzagournis, who greeted them warmly. When questions were asked regarding the history and architecture of the church, she referred Nouna to the Church Historian, Diana Synadinos. She was kind enough to take Nouna and Mama on a tour of the original church built in 1922, which is slated for demolition to make way for a major expansion.

The Annunciation Cathedral belongs to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh, which is under the authority of Metropolitan Maximos, Presiding Hierarch of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh.

The parish was chartered by the State of Ohio in 1910. There were about 30 Greek families in Columbus at the time and they wanted to form a parish even though they did not yet have a church building or priest. Their own church would not become a reality until March 27, 1922, when the first service was held on the Sunday of Annunciation. Today, Annunciation has about 800 families on the church mailing list and an annual budget of over one million dollars.

Following Church, the girls changed into to the gifts brought to them from Nouno, two Red Wings Official Jerseys to match his own which proudly boasted the number 13 for Pavel Datsuyk the Red Wings Star Offensemen. They headed up the street, just three short blocks from the church to the Nationwide Arena, to the home of the Blue Jackets, and Sergei Federov. Nouno carried both girls across the threshold ceremonially. Everyone was excited to watch the championship team. To the amazement of all the audience was predominantly Red Wings Fans, the Red Jersey's outnumbered the Blue Jackets 2-1. Outstanding. The excitement of the game met all expectations and everyone was pleased to be able to attend a winning game 4-1, nearly a shut out.

Returning home, the tired group parted, planning to make the visit a regular tradition.

Pictures of the Cathedral and Nationwide Arena are available in our photo gallery.

Malista!