WEIRTON, WV – The All Saints Church in Weirton, WV is blessed to have at the helm of its Parish Council Nick Latousakis, a businessman, a man of deep faith and devotion to Christ and His Church, and an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In an interview with The National Herald Latousakis spoke about the past, the present, and the future of the parish in which he was born and loves dearly.
TNH: How do you feel being Parish Council president on the occasion of All Saints’ centennial?
NL: I am honored and humbled to be president at this momentous occasion. Due to parish term limits, this shall be my sixth and final year. But what touched me immensely is how many of our parishioners kept asking me run for reelection because they felt I deserved to be president for our centennial. I often wonder how those before me,who are no longer with us, evaluate my performance as president.
TNH: I understand you were born and raised in the parish.
NL: Yes, I was born and raised in Weirton. Three city blocks away from All Saints.I grew up on a street where all the houses looked the same.Astreet of houses that Weirton Steel built in the early 1900s for rapidly arriving and much-needed employees for their newly constructed steel plants. I went to Sunday School, Greek School, was an acolyte, junior choir, and member of Greek Boy Scout and Cub Scout Troop 131, and YAL.Also the Sons of Pericles and AHEPA
TNH:Where did you parents come from and when?
NL: Both my parents came from the medieval village of Olympi Chios. My father, Mihali,was living in Weirton and working in the steel mill.When he first arrived in the United States, he went to Pittsburgh looking for work in the steel mills and then settled in Weirton. In 1950 he returned to Greece and then returned to the United States with my mother, Anastasia.
TNH:Why did they go to Weirton?
NL: First and foremost, they came to the United States because they heard that the streets were paved in gold and that everyone ate with golden forks.But they found out quickly that was not the case.Weirton afforded them the opportunity to find employment and raise a family.They were drawn by the opportunity America would afford any future children.There was also a growing Greek community that could help them learn the culture of America and at the same time still feel as though they were still in Greece.Many Greek-owned businesses were located here.
TNH: Would you please talk to us a little about the significance of the centennial?
NL:Our centennial gives us the opportunity to honor and remember our past,to bask in the present, and to plan for our next 100 years.As a parish we were so looking forward to our centennial that our planning began two years ago.Not many parishes can boast that they have reached the milestone of 100 years, but when it comes to Greek Orthodox parishes, it is commonplace. That is a testament to all Greek orthodox communities. Our parish for 100 years has been a beacon to the Greek community.There is much yperifania-pride within the community.However, it can be bittersweet.It is times like these that you remember and reflect on all those who worked so hard, physically and financially, for our parish that are no longer with us. Memory Eternal.Over the past 12 years, our tiny community has invested approximately$2 million into our edifice and our surrounding property. Tearing down surrounding dilapidated structures and constructing a new parking lot.Building a new attached elevator building complex. Winning community pride awards for what we have done to revitalize the areas surrounding the church structure.Culminating at one moment.All of the beautification and our Centennial coinciding with one another. As Francis Nowalk, an 85-year-old restoration expert from Pittsburgh who has completed many projects at All Saints says it is the “hidden architectural gem” of the Pittsburgh region.
TNH:How is the parish doing? What are its strengths and challenges?
NL:Our parish is a lot like our community.Resilient.We may not be large in numbers, but pound-for-pound I would put our parish up against anyone, Greek Orthodox and non-Greek Orthodox parishes alike. A lot of philotimo. They say when the going gets tough the tough get going, well, that is absolutely the philosophy of All Saints.We have gone from a community of close to 30,000 inhabitants to approximately 18,500.Our membership has decreased to now being at 200 members family and singles, but once again we are growing.However, our stewardship has never been greater.So, no doubt, our strength is our people.We are seeing to increase numbers participating in our services not only of Greek Orthodox but of all Orthodox denominations.Our annual Weirton Greek Festival is one of the premiere events in the Pittsburgh area.Everyone, including all of the children,works incredibly hard from 5AM to midnight for three days, Thursday through Saturday. Our youth Aegean dancers are incredible.I like to think the word challenge is not in our vocabulary. We see challenges as opportunities to show our strength.Five years ago, a week before our festival, our church freezer malfunctioned over the weekend.In the freezer were $50,000 of foods we had prepared for our festival.All of which had to be destroyed.Months of parish labor.
By the time our festival began, between our parishioners and the help of the parishioners of the other local Greek churches, we completely reproduced all that we had lost and the festival moved forward as planned.What we accomplished to recover made local headline news. We also had non-Greeks who heard what happened to us come to the parish to help us prepare any way they could.Including “Uncle Sam,” who had just participated in the local Weirton Fourth of July Parade. He saw us working at the parish on the Fourth and came in to help.
TNH: What is the relationship between the parish and the Weirton community?
NL: We are very visible within the community as professionals and business owners, some as many as 82 years. We have had city council members and volunteers. The parish has had five members inducted into the Weirton Hall of Fame, and that only began several years ago.I was blessed to be one of the inductees, for philanthropy. As I mentioned, we have won beautification awards.Our parish and our Philoptohos and AHEPA have been always first in line to provide for the children of the Weirton Christian Center, which also celebrates its Centennial this year.
TNH: How is the spirit among congregants about the upcoming celebrations?
NL: Let’s just say nervous excitement.Honored that we will be blessed with a visit by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America and His Eminence Metropolitan Savas.Along with many other clergy and dignitaries.
TNH:What do the young men and women feel? Do they participate?
NL: Over the past few years we have seen a resurgence in youth participation.A testament to our Youth Ministry leaders and to all who assist them.Our recent March 25th program had the largest number of youth participation than we have had in many years. They are always front and center working our festivals and at many other church events. I have seen the transitioning over recent years of the pews being filled with younger people for services, which is wonderful.
TNH: What is your vision about the parish for the next 100 years?
NL:Continued growth.Continued participation.That we will be a beacon for all Orthodox, not just Greek.Also converts.Currently in the Weirton, WV /Steubenville, OH metropolitan area we have two Greek Orthodox churches, one Serbian Orthodox church, three Russian Orthodox churches, and others.I do not see our areas being able to sustain that many parishes.I believe you will see the blending of the parishes and much of the services to be performed in English. Our parish has the largest membership of all the area parishes.What will be vitally important shall be the engagement and excitementof the parishioners with both the clergy and also the parish leadership.What you always hear from the non-Greek residents of Weirton is “the Greeks will never let anything happen to that church”
TNH:Ιn which areas do you think emphasis should be given?
NL: The future is our youth.Whatever needs to be done to attract the youth to become involved with the church.And they must be willing to do it on their own.To discover a love for the church on their own.This shall be tasked to the clergy and to the parish leadership.A want to come to church.An excitement.Also must be combined with inner self to want to participate.All this originates through the parents and grandparents.
TNH:Do you think the young generation will continue the sustenance and the salvific mission of the parish?
Latousakis:I wish I had a crystal ball to answer this question.As I mentioned previously, the bottom line becomes the importance of the church being emphasized by the parents, grandparents, and all family members to the young people. As I always say to those who do not attend church, “You don’t know what you missed.”
TNH: How do you feel about the Hellenic spiritual and cultural heritage?
NL: I love my Hellenic and cultural heritage. I love saying I am a Greek-American. We only spoke Greek at home. So to me, it is blessing that I am fluent in the Greek language.
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