Former Miss America, Greek clergy lead St. John the Divine centennial celebration

Posted on October 3, 2016 By Editor Articles, San Jose, San Marco, St. Nicholas

Nicholas J. Furris, Jody Brandenburg, president of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Homes, Reverend Dr. Nicholas Louh, senior pastor of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church, with his wife, Dr. Roxanne Louh, Tom Harris, General Manager of Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Funeral Home and Cemetery with Brent Perry, lead funeral director at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Funeral Home.

Members of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in St. Nicholas celebrated their church’s 100th anniversary in great style with a grand banquet at the Prime Osborn Center Sept. 24.

The only Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville and the third oldest of its denomination in Florida, St. John the Divine marked its centennial with a weekend full of activities. A memorial service to honor parish ancestors was held at Evergreen Cemetery on Main Street in Jacksonville in the morning on Sept. 24, followed by a groundbreaking ceremony at 12890 Beach Blvd., where the parish plans to build a larger church edifice. On Sept. 25 and 26, a total of four religious services were also held as part of the festivities.

Former Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell, who is a member of the Greek Orthodox faith, was the keynote speaker at the banquet. Many prominent religious figures in the Greek Orthodox Church also attended the event including His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, Georgia, Reverend Dr. Nicholas Louh, senior pastor of Jacksonville’s St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church and Reverend Dr. Milton Magos, co-pastor of the Jacksonville parish.