[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24893]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATING ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DINA TITUS

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 14, 2009

  Ms. TITUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. John the 
Baptist Greek Orthodox Church as they mark their 50th anniversary as a 
congregation during the month of October. I am looking forward to 
celebrating with my friends at the church in the coming weeks.
  Incorporated on April 8, 1959, and named in September of the same 
year, the Church has long served as a pillar of the Las Vegas 
community. As the first Greek Orthodox Church in Southern Nevada, St. 
John's welcomed new Americans of Greek descent to Las Vegas and helped 
them feel at home in the community. St. John's has also educated 
thousands of children in the rituals and faith of the Greek Orthodox 
Church, ensuring the strength and vitality of the doctrine.
  Since 1959, the congregation and its leaders have remained true to 
its core Greek Orthodox principles of faith and family. This large and 
dynamic community has been a guiding light in Southern Nevada. The 
Church offers both religious and Greek language classes for children 
and young adults, as well as a bookstore for all ages. The Church has 
been home to many happy occasions, including christenings, religious 
holidays, birthdays, and weddings. Our community has also come together 
in times of mourning to offer consolation and comfort to the grieving. 
St. John's has been a valuable part of my life since I moved to Las 
Vegas more than 30 years ago as I was welcomed with authentic Greek 
hospitality.
  In the past 50 years, the Church has expanded from a small group of 
patrons to a large community meeting in a beautiful Church located in 
the heart of District 3, whose design was inspired by St. Euphemia of 
the Hippodrome in Constantinople. Today, St. John's has a vibrant 
membership and is host to a community center and educational 
facilities.
  Since 2003, the Hellenic Historical Society has been preserving and 
chronicling the history of the Greek community of Las Vegas in order to 
pass on this important record to future generations. Through exhibits 
and presentations, the Historical Society has been educating and 
informing the Greek community of its deep roots in the Las Vegas 
Valley. Their newest educational project is tracing the ancestral roots 
of the Greek community and their journey to Southern Nevada.
  The Church is also active in social justice projects that benefit 
children, seniors, the sick, and the poor. Through a variety of social 
action projects, congregation members are constantly contributing and 
working not only to improve Southern Nevada, but also the worldwide 
community.
  The Church hosts regular events celebrating Greek heritage such as 
folk dancing, led by award winning dancing teams, and Easter egg hunts. 
There is also an annual Greek Food festival which is famous throughout 
the Las Vegas Valley for its wonderful music, camaraderie, and the best 
Greek food outside of Athens.
  I congratulate St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church for its 
first 50 years of successes and extend my best wishes for the next 50 
years.

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