As everyone has been busy preparing for our festival, plans for our 100th anniversary celebrations took a back seat. Now that the festival is behind us, we will be designating meeting dates, inviting the entire community to participate in what should be first-rate celebrations marking the establishment of this historic community. it was decided we should wait until after the festival to begin holding regular meetings. Just to reiterate, 2021 will mark the Cathedral’s 100th anniversary. 100 years since it was established by Meletios Metaxakis (along with the then Dioceses of Chicago and Boston, and the Archdiocese, which is headquartered in New York). Originally, our Cathedral was named St. Sophia and was located at Hayes and Pierce Streets, right across from San Francisco’s famed Alamo Square. In 1928, the community relocated to Valencia Street, in large part because the Valencia Street site was more accessible. It was renamed “Annunciation,” in 1936. (Its corporate name is United Greek Orthodox Community of San Francisco, The Annunciation.) As noted, we are initially planning to print a commemorative book, as well as a “100th anniversary weekend,” culminating in a grand gala event. Jim Loukas, who heads the Commemorative Book Committee, is in the process of gathering photographs and information, from both parishioners and the community at large, for inclusion the book. In the process, Jim found and has forwarded a photograph of our Greek School in 1950, which we’ve reproduced on the back page of the present issue. Additional information about this effort, as well as 100th anniversary events in general, culminating in grand gala event, will be forthcoming.
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