Published by The Flint Journal First Edition, August 9, 2003

 Year-old Orthodox church puts tradition in new package

By George Jaksa
Journal Religion Writer

FENTON, Michigan, August 9, 2003 (FJFE) -- The Rev. Paul Jannakos thinks people have grown weary of fads and gimmicks in religion and yearn for a more traditional faith life.

"Forty years ago, it was the social gospel," he said. "Thirty years ago, it was the born-again movement; 20 years ago, it was the charismatic renewal; 10 years ago, it was the Promise Keepers; and five years ago, everyone was into angels. But where are these things now?"

The one-year growth of St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Mission Church in Fenton testifies to Jannakos' belief. He has seen the church grow from 25 families when it was launched in July 2002 to 80 families. "I am very happy with the way the church is growing," said Jannakos, an Orthodox priest for 19 years. "We have a fund drive going and hope to build a multipurpose hall within a year." Jannakos, 45, said Christian Orthodoxy offers the old and new at the same time. "Our faith is old in that it stretches back to the time of the first apostles, but it is also new in that it remains completely pertinent and relevant to the needs of your average American," he said.

Jannakos, who was raised by Greek Orthodox parents in Golden, Colo., was pastor for six years at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church before getting approval from the local Orthodox bishop to establish St. Mary Magdalene. He said a parish is needed in southern Genesee County because of the strong growth in population. Members primarily come from Genesee and Oakland Counties for 10 a.m. services. When first organized, services were held in the chapel of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. Because of rapid growth, several months later services were moved to larger facilities in the parish Knights of Columbus hall. He said the parish is seeking $400,000 to purchase property and build a hall. Jannakos said half of his parishioners were born into Orthodox families. The rest are converts from other Western faiths. "When people today hear about Orthodoxy, they usually hear about it within some type of ethnic context, how it must be Greek, Russian, Romanian, Macedonian or Middle-Eastern," he said. "In our parish, however, we have chosen to focus on making our faith understandable and accessible to the average American - to truly be all things to all men,' as the Holy Apostle Paul writes."

Jannakos believes his church has much to offer because of Orthodoxy's rich historical and cultural experience. "We're not talking about a religion that was founded 20 years ago in Southern California, nor about a church that was founded by one of the reformers during the Protestant reformation," he said. "Orthodoxy is a faith that can be traced back to the Jerusalem church over 2,000 years ago."

In addition to Sunday liturgy, the parish holds Bible classes Wednesday nights in the fall, winter and spring.

Editor's Note:

George Jaksa covers religion. He can be reached at (810) 766-6332 or gjaksa@flintjournal.com