It was a beautiful day at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center as people from all over the Metropolis of Chicago gathered to celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the feastday of Panagia, the Life-Giving Font. Many parishes rented buses as part of the Hellenic Foundation Golden Circle Program and brought their senior parishioners to the Retreat Center to participate in the festivities. For many, it was their first time visiting the Retreat Center.
After the Divine Liturgy in the Chapel, attendees gathered at the adjacent sports fields for the official ribbon cutting of the new fields made possible by a Grant from the Hellenic Foundation. His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael was joined by St. Iakovos Retreat Center Board President Paul Loupakos, Hellenic Foundation President Demetrios P. Soukoulis, Hellenic Foundation Executive Director Peter E. Valessares, and other Hellenic Foundation Board Members and staff, in officially opening the sports fields in time for the Fanari Summer Camp.
