Greek Orthodox Cathedral of The Annunciation

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After a long hiatus Annunciation Cathedral’s event calendar is once again being updated. You may take a look at upcoming August events here.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the feasibility survey that Fr. Anthony Scott conducted. It was a pleasure to see so many people at this Sunday’s special parish assembly. It was particularly encouraging to hear oohs and ahhs when the architectural renderings of the new cathedral were unveiled. In case you missed them, or should you want to share our vision with friends and with the wider community,you will findabove aslideshow of the images that Goldman Architects produced.
You may also see comprehensive architectural plans in the form of line drawings in the slideshow below.

The Annunciation Cathedral: Its Past and Its Future
Published on November 25, 2009 in Construction Phase II and Parish History. 0 Comments Tags: Parish History, phase ii.

In 1870, 27 Greeks lived in San Francisco. By 1900, that figure increased to 199 and, by 1920, following the Balkan Wars, to 3,886. A Greek Town emerged in the area we know now as South of Market. (There is a plaque at the southeastern corner of Moscone Center, marking the spot.) Holy Trinity, the first Greek church in San Francisco, was incorporated in 1904.
In 1916, political loyalties in Greece resulted in a division here between the supporters of the Prime Minister, Eleftherios Venizelos, and King Constantine I. In 1921, those who supported the Prime Minister purchased a lot at Hayes and Pierce Streets and began building their own church. The church was named the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sophia by Meletios Metaxakis, the Archbishop of Greece who had been deposed by the king, since he was a Venizelos loyalist. Later the same year, the Archbishop was elected Ecumenical Patriarch, the highest ecclesiastical ranking in the Orthodox Church. The seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch is Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). While in the United States, Meletios Metaxakis also created four DiocesesSan Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and New York. The Archdiocese, headquartered in New York, was incorporated in 1922. In 1928, the St. Sophia community sold the property at Hayes and Pierce Streets and relocated to the old Valencia Street Theater, which had been built in 1908. Over the next five years, the community added a school, offices, and a community center. However, the burden of a heavy mortgage during the Depression years resulted in its declaration of bankruptcy, in 1935.
The St. Sophia community was reorganized in 1936. It was now named United Greek Orthodox Community of San Francisco, The Annunciation, and has been known ever since as the Annunciation Cathedral. One of its objectives was to unite the Greek Orthodox population of San Francisco under one community (hence the name United Greek Orthodox Community). The 1940s and 1950s brought a lot of activity to the church, including involvement in Greek war relief, the growth of the Womens Philoptochos, AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association), the Daughters of Penelope, and GAPA (Greek American Progressive Association), as well as the establishment of GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America) and an athletic league.
In 1964 a major renovation of the Cathedral was undertaken. The sanctuary was given a fresh coat of paint, the iconostasion doors were expanded to provide for a better view of the altar table, and the auditorium was refurbished. Later, the exterior columns of the old theater were covered over by a new faade, and the bell towers, which had weakened, were removed. An adjacent apartment building, acquired by the Cathedral in 1962, was razed to make way for the building of a new community center complex. In 1981, the Bausch and Lomb Optical Company building, located at 275 Valencia Street, was purchased by the Cathedral, effectively giving the community some 47,000 square feet of land. The plans now provided for the inclusion of this new acquisition in the new community center. However, the earthquake of October 17, 1989 changed all that. The church sustained major damage. Consequently, it was demolished. Following a year-long search for an alternate site, the parishioners decided to rebuild on the Valencia Street site, in two phases. Phase I, now completed, consists of a 39,000 square foot facility, including a gymnasium, classrooms, offices, a kitchen, storage, and a temporary place of worship, known as the Bishop Anthony Hall and Chapel. In 1997, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew broke ground for Phase II, to consist of a 13,000 square foot Cathedral, with two levels of underground parking. While alternate sites were considered (in fact, offers were made on two sites) a decision was reached in January of 2009 to proceed with Phase II at the present location. Meanwhile, the offices of the Metropolis of San Francisco (the Diocese of San Francisco was elevated to a Metropolis by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2002) were moved to the Cathedral in 2008, signaling a new era for the Annunciation Cathedral as the administrative center for the Greek Orthodox Church of the West. A study of the Annunciation Cathedral, also conducted in 2008, by the Research Department of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute in Berkeley, California shows that the Cathedral is poised to develop programs to meet the growing needs of its parishioners and of future generations.
The community expects to have the necessary approvals from the Parish and the Metropolis by the end of 2009, and from the City in 2010. Construction could begin the latter part of 2010. Preliminary estimates put the project at $10 million. Approximately one-half of this amount was bequeathed to the Cathedrals Building Fund by the late Angelo and Anne Mountanos. It is the largest bequest in the Cathedrals history. Inspired by the epitome of Orthodox Christian architecturethe sixth century Haghia Sophia in Constantinople, known as the Great Churchthe new Cathedral will feature a large dome over a central plan. The dome will rise to sixty-four feet and will contain the icon of Christ Pantokrator (lit. the ruler of all). A smaller chapel, or baptistry, will feature an adult baptismal font, while an infant baptismal font will be located on the soleas (the raised area between the nave and the apse on which the bishops throne, the pulpit, and two chanters stations are also located). The Iconostasion (on which icons of Christ the Teacher, the Theotokos and Child, the Annunciation, St. John the Forerunner and Baptist, and the Archangels Michael and Gabriel will be installed) will separate the soleas from the ieron, where the altar table will be placed, along with two niches, one for the prothesis (the preparation of the Gifts), the other for saints relics. The ieron will also feature a synthronon, or bishops throne, in accordance with early Christian church architecture, as well as seating for clergy and acolytes. The nave will provide permanent seating for 572, with additional seating for special occasions, in the baptistry, in the north transept, and in the choir loft. The choir loft will provide spaces for 52 choir members, as well as additional seating. The final icon to be installed will be that of the Platytera ton Ouranon (lit. she who is wider than the heavens). It is an icon of the Ever-Virgin Mary Theotokos (lit. God-bearer) holding Jesus Christ, as a child, and is located high in the apse, or ieron, above the altar table.
The new Cathedral is designed to interface with Phase I. Arched vestibules will connect the narthex with the existing administration building, as well as the Bishop Anthony Hall and Chapel. The doors of the north transept will open onto the existing courtyard, which will connect to an additional open area along the exterior of the apse, more than doubling the existing courtyard space. Together with the buildings erected in Phase I, the new Cathedral will constitute a Byzantine jewel in an urban setting. It is projected that the new Cathedral will be completed in 2012.

However much it will cost to build the Cathedral, along with its underground parking component, money will have to be raised. The Cathedral has approximately $5 million, set aside specifically for this purpose. The money represents a bequest by the late Anne and Angelo Mountanos, who left the money, not to the Cathedral, but to the Cathedral Building Fund, expressly for the purpose of building the church. The rest of the money needed to build will have to be raised. Towards this end, the Parish Council is putting together a Capital Campaign Committee. The committee will come up with a fund raising plan, which will be put to the Parish Assembly for its consideration and approval and, then, will implement the plan, i.e. raise the additional money needed to build. If you would like to assist the Parish by serving on the Capital Campaign Committee, you are invited to speak with Father Stephen, by calling 415 864-8000, or by e mail, dean@annunciation.org, This undertaking is challenging and historical at the same time, as it represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a Greek Orthodox house of faith, to serve the present generation of faithful, as well as those generations to come.

Following interviews of three excellent companies, namely Nibbi, Cahill, and Plant, the Cathedral Parish Council decided to ask Nibbi Brothers Construction to provide pre-construction services for the Cathedrals project. This project consists of constructing two levels of below grade parking on the Cathedrals site at 245 Valencia Street, with a Church above. The Church will be at the level of the Cathedrals present buildings. It will feature a worship space on the ground level, accommodating approximately 550, a balcony for the choir, and an adult baptistery. The main feature will be a dome with a diameter of approximately 45 feet, which will rise some 62 feet above ground level. The role of contractor providing pre-construction services is to analyze the project and provide an accurate cost estimate. The various components will be delineated, in terms of scope and costs and, thus, the Parish Council will develop a proposal to be put before a special Parish Assembly, which will be convened by special letter, to discuss and approve the project. The proposal will include the scope of the project as well as a fund raising plan. Once we have the necessary approvals, by the Parish and by the Metropolis, as required by our Archdiocese Regulations, we will proceed to
the construction document phase and apply for a building permit from the San Francisco Planning Department. A preliminary timetable shows that construction could begin the latter part of 2010 and that we can occupy the new Cathedral by Christmas, 2012. It is possible that we will have the cost estimates some time in December and a fund raising plan in place shortly after that. It is conceivable that the special Parish Assembly can be convened in January 2010.