Our 50th Year
A Half Century of Service
With the coming of 2012, Christ the Saviour Cathedral has existed 50 years as a parish community. It is a major event in the life of parish – a time of reflection on the past as well as a time to look ahead to the future.
The story of Christ the Saviour Church/Cathedral is a unique and active story. Our parish is very much the same as others, but there have been unique characteristics and events that have differentiated us from others.
Under the leadership and energy of the late Fr. George Gladky, our founder and pastor from 1962 until his passing in 1987, we saw the acquisition of our 99th Street church, the building of our hall, the four unit retirement village, and the two unit duplex which ultimately housed Archbishop Dmitri, as well as the bookstore and parish/diocesan offices. Our current 77th Court property was also purchased during his tenure.
The activities of the parish showed how lively and alluring the community was to be a part of, not just to our parishioners, but also to snowbirds and new comers of various backgrounds. We had religious centered events like the Christmas Eve Holy Supper, the January Parish Feast Day, and the Paschal Open House – which we still carry on today. But there were other celebrations like Russian New Year’s Eve (Jan. 13), the various ethnic dinners, and the occasional hosting of a Miami Russian Club event, or of a balalaika troop.
In order to project the name and vitality of our parish, as well as raise needed funds, we participated in numerous community sponsored international ethnic fairs at the old Bayfront Auditorium and Tropical Park, where there was not just the presence of food from our kitchen, but also iconography, Orthodox books, pamphlets, and always someone to be able to share our faith.
Our parish, through Fr. George, took responsibility for pockets of Orthodox faithful beyond our area. Through Fr. George’s ministry as Dean, and then as Chancellor, small groups of Orthodox were cultivated in various locations within Florida and in some other southern states. Here in Florida, the communities at Lake Worth, Port St. Lucie, New Port Richey, Naples, Ft. Myers, Orlando, Titusville, Safety Harbor and Bradenton all had their beginning through Fr. George and the support and effort from Christ the Saviour. When the Diocese of the South was formed in 1978, Christ the Saviour Church was made a Cathedral, recognition of the years of leadership and sacrificial giving that has been part of the heritage of our parish.
The years have passed since the big days of the 60’s and 70’s. Many things have changed in Miami, including the demographics. Our parish is not as large as it was back then. Still, the dynamism of Christ the Saviour has continued. In 1993, we gave up our 99th Street campus and built our hall on 77th Court. We worshipped here, working hard to raise funds, keeping the dream of our permanent cathedral church alive. Through the faithfulness and generosity of many of our parishioners, and the bequeaths of a number who believed in us and kept us in mind following their passing into eternity (especially one special gift), we built our permanent church 12 years later, moving in at the end of October 2006, beginning a program of beautification, which we enjoy and continue today. Our parish has continued to sponsor numerous retreats with well known speakers over the recent years. And we have actively been involved within the life of our deanery and our diocese, causing many to continue looking to Christ the Saviour as a leader.
Although we have had many accomplishments, we cannot just look back and relax. The Lord has blessed us in remarkable ways, equipping us with a beautiful facility and temple, with personnel and with strong support. All of this is for a purpose. We can only interpret that all this has come about for a reason, to equip our parish for a particular phase of service in our area. It is an exciting time to be a member of our cathedral, as the living heritage continues through us. The Lord will reveal these things, and is probably already doing so in some way. It is our job to be ready – to prepare ourselves spiritually, to practice our Orthodox Faith with more seriousness, to be aware of the dynamics within our parish, to support each other as we support our parish, and to respond positively and actively with those whom the Lord will put in our path.
We are called to love God and love our neighbor. Being mindful of this and acting on it even in a basic way, we can do much to continue the good work of our parish from the first 50 years, and set the course of service to God and His people for the next.
May 2012 be a wonderful and holy year for you, your family, and our parish!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Philip Reese
