Update
on the building project
Los
Angeles, California - 03/22/2004
Part I
On Sun. Nov 9 2003
His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel celebrated the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy at
the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Los Angeles. The concelebrating clergy: Fr.
Constantin Alecse, parish priest, Fr. Bill Clark, chaplain, and Fr. Deacon
Vasile Simonca, were assisted by the chanters Iosif Razvan Bena, Irinel
Dumitrascu and Liviu Constantinescu,and by the numerous faithful present.
At the end of the Liturgy, Fr. Constantin Alecse gave a
brief presentation of the 65 years history of this parish, and of its Building
project in Sunland CA.
He was followed by Architect Garo Minassian, who presented
the final construction plans. He and Architect Michelle Ertzan work together
closely at this plan, making sure that it incorporates the essential elements
of the Moldovita monastery. The Architect presented in detail the Plot Plan,
the Church Plan, the Parish Hall Plan, the administration buildings, and the
future possible apartment building for the elderly. The presentation was very
well received by the participants.
At the end of this presentation, Archbishop Nathaniel gave
a very eloquent sermon in Romanian.
He was pleased to notice the revival of the building
project, which after 10 years of stagnation has made a lot of progress in a
very short time. He also thanked all those involved in this project, the
parishioners, members of the parish auxiliary organizations, the building
committee members, the architects, and the other specialists.
His Eminence extended a very warm call to all the members
and supporters of the Holy Trinity parish to help the parish priest and the
building committee in this very difficult, demanding and costly endeavor. He
also called on the whole Romanian American community in Southern California to
be generous in supporting this project, to show magnanimity in their donations,
and where appropriate to remember to mention the Holy Trinity Church in their
wills.
After the sermon, the participants were blessed by
sprinkling with the holy water, and proceeded to the church courtyard for a
group photo with the Hierarch.
Note:
The parish office has informed all the members of the parish about the
presentation, and H.E. Archbishop Nathaniel has received a complete set of the
plans. These plans will be discussed and analyzed by the Episcopate Council,
before the final ecclesiastical approval.
After this, the plans will be
submitted for approval to the Los Angeles City Council.
Part II
From
November 2003 until the beginning of February 2004 the building plans have been
put in a semi-final form, and sent to the Episcopate for examination, comments,
and approval. H.E. Archbishop Nathaniel and V. Rev. Fr. Laurence Lazar,
have sent the suggestions of the Religious Art Committee of our Episcopate to
the architects.
On Feb. 24'th, the parish priest, the two architects, and the structural
engineer had a two hour meeting at the office of Architect, Garo Menassian.
They discussed and found the ways to incorporate in the building plans the suggestions
received from the Archbishop. Until the second half of March the
architects and structural engineer have incorporated these changes into the
plans, which will be resubmitted to the Episcopate before March 20 for the
final approval.
In the meantime, the civil engineer "George Boghossian &
Associates" has put together a very advanced version of the grading plans,
and sent them to the geology company "R.T. Frankian &
Associates" on February 25. This company has also completed the geological
and soil tests, and by the end of March will finalize the Geological Report.
During this period Architect Michelle Ertzan has worked with the company
"Western Pioneer Sales inc.", (consultants and distributors of
commercial kitchen equipments), discussed the preliminary plans for placement
of the kitchen equipment, as well as the City Hall regulations regarding
commercial kitchens. We are very grateful to Architect Michelle Ertzan for
responding to our request and helping us in this area.
Out intention is to have the plans reviewed and approved by the Episcopate by
the end of March, so that the Architects may finalize them during April.
Towards the end of April we hope to have a general meeting of the Building
Committee, and submit the plans to the City Hall at the beginning of May, so
that by the end of the year we can start constructing the church.
(Translated
from Romanian by dr. Razvan Iosif Bena, subdeacon & his wife Cristina Bena)
Viata Crestină, Aprilie-Iunie
2004
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