Opa!

St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church

One of the nice things about Savannah is the varied ethnic groups and celebrations that live here. In Savannah we have festivals celebrating the heritages of Jews, Irish, Germans, African-Americans, Scots, English, Hispanics, Asians, French, and an International Festival celebrating a multitude of ethnic groups.  In neighboring towns we have a Russian Festival, a Mexican Our Lady of Guadalupe festival, and so on. Finally, we have one of my favorite the Greek festival. 

The first Greeks arrived in Savannah around 1870. As many groups that first came to Savannah the church became the center of their cultural life. The first Greek Orthodox Church in Savannah was organized around 1900 and received its charter in 1907.  In 1918, they erected a Greek school behind the church where Greek language, history and the Orthodox Christian faith were taught on weekdays and Saturday mornings.

A local chapter of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association was organized in 1923. Its purpose was to "advance and promote pure and undefiled Americanism among the Greeks of the United States, and for the benevolent aid among this nationality."

In 1941 the Greek Orthodox Church purchased the Lawton Memorial Building from the City of Savannah. After a renovation, the former civic center was transformed into a beautiful house of worship. In 1951 the Church built a Greek Center. This is where the Savannah Greek Festival is celebrating its 67th anniversary this year is held. Today the church serves 350 families.

Probably, one of the most prominent modern day Greek citizens of Savannah was John P. Rousakis (January 14, 1929 – December 10, 2000). He was the first Greek-American to become Mayor of Savannah. Rousakis was elected to the Chatham County Commission in 1965.He ran for Mayor of Savannah in 1970. He won re-election in 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986. This made him the longest serving mayor in Savannah history.

Rousakis was quite the athlete. He was elected to the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame. He was the captain of the Savannah High School state basketball champs in 1946 and '47. "Some people called him 'Jumping Johnny Rousakis.'” He couldn't get 2 inches off the ground," said his son, Paul. "He told me it was great timing. He always had the touch." He accepted a scholarship to Kentucky to play for legendary coach Adolph Rupp, then later transferred to Armstrong College and to the University of Georgia, where an ankle injury ended his playing career.

Rousakis was an active mayor that saw River Street, which was slated to become a parking lot, revitalized into the world renowned place it is today. His tenure included the development of City Market, which has become another tourist haunt but locals can also be seen there chowing down at Vinnie Van Go-Go’s pizza joint. His administration was instrumental in bringing Olympic Yachting to Savannah in 1996. His list of other accomplishments as mayor is quite remarkable.

He became, in some ways, Savannah’s celebrity. He made an appearance in the movie “Gator” as a hotel clerk which starred Burt Reynolds. Rousakis, whose parents emigrated from Greece, received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, awarded annually to significant Americans of foreign descent. He was honored with U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre. He was even cited in a new in a book that he may have had a part in President Nixon's 1972 election victory over George McGovern. In The Hunting of the President: The Ten-Year Campaign to Destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton, writers Joe Conason and Gene Lyons report that a letter Rousakis wrote McGovern was used by Nixon's campaign to discredit McGovern’s support among the Greek population. In the letter he labeled the McGovern supporter and Greek editor Elias Demetracopoulos an "obscure Greek communist journalist". This letter was circulated by the Nixon campaign to Greek-American newspapers to show McGovern did not have genuine Greek backing.

It was an outbreak of crime caused by the Ricky Jivens gang that finally would unseat him as Mayor. The violent crime rate was one of the highest in the nation. Savannahians, concerned about their economies and welfare, voted him out for the tough on crime Republican candidate Susan Weiner. She would become the first woman mayor of Savannah.
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The Greeks continue to enliven the cityscape and world of Savannah. Whether it be eating spanakopita at the Olympia Café on River Street, touring the beautiful Greek Orthodox Church, listening and watching Greek music and dance at the annual Greek Festival, or seeing a show at Rousakis Plaza on River Street, one can appreciate their presence in our city.
 

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Rousakis Campaigning

The Interior of St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church