[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 125 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1759-E1760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     TRIBUTE TO THE ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN FRESNO IN 
                  CELEBRATION OF ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE P. RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 18, 1998

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. George 
Greek Orthodox Church for its 75 year anniversary in Fresno. St. George 
Church and its parish have established a strong foundation of moral 
guidance and deep religious Christian faith within Fresno's community.
  St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Fresno was established in 1924 by 
several Greeks who emigrated to the San Joaquin Valley and settled in 
the Fresno area during the late 1800's. The early settlers established 
farms and started family businesses. The Greek community of Fresno was 
formed by the growing families of these early settlers. Many men from 
the Greek community served and fought in World War II.
  St. George Church was established for the mutual benefit of the Greek 
community to preserve their religion, culture and language. The Church 
formed the first philanthropic society of women to assist the needy and 
to serve the community of Fresno. In 1955, St. George built a new 
church on a five-acre site and

[[Page E1760]]

added a social hall shortly thereafter. St. George continued its 
expansion and built a school building for religious and cultural 
education and an audio-visual studio to support these educational 
activities.
  St. George Church has initiated educational programs to reach out to 
the children, youth, and seniors in the Fresno area. St. George also 
reaches out to the growing multicultural, non-Greek Eastern Orthodox 
following including other Americans, Russians, Armenians, Lebanese, 
Serbians, Eritreans, Bulgarians, and Asians.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to St. George Greek Orthodox 
Church of Fresno for its 75 year anniversary. St. George Church and its 
parish have established a strong foundation of moral guidance and 
Christian faith in its service to the community of Fresno. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in wishing St. George Greek Orthodox Church many 
more years of success.

                          ____________________