Changes

Very The Right Rev. Archimandrite '''Theoclitos (Triantafilides)''' (born '''Theodoros Triantafilides''', in November, 1833. He was the First Orthodox priest in Texas, and due to his fluency in Greek, Russian, Serbian and SerbianArabic, he was able to establish one of the oldest multi-ethnic parishes in the United States.

His father was an Athenian Greek. When the first outbreaks of the [[w:Greek War of Independence|Greek War of Independence]] from the [[w:Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Empire]] started on the [[w:Peloponnese|Peloponnese Peninsula]], his father, a fisherman crossed onto the peninsula to join the forces of famed Greek General [[w:Theodoros Kolokotronis|Theodoros Kolokotronis]], also an Athenian. Eight years later, when Independence was achieved (with great help from the Allied Russian, English and French Forces); he settled in [[w:Aigio|Egio]] (one of the oldest cities in the Balkans), Peloponnese Peninsula, Greece.

His early schooling was in the Church of Panagia Trypiti that is built inside a cavity of the cliff just 150 stair steps above the Port of Egio and he helped the Priests with all their duties, occasionally traveling into the local mountains to visit [[w:Agia Lavra|Agia Lavras Monastery]], about 20 miles south and up in the mountains. Greek Independence had started there with Bishop Germanos Declaring Independence with his blessing of the troops. Later Earlier the Ottomans had burned the Monastery, but it was reconstructed with help from the Russian Orthodox Church. Many of the Icons there were gifts from the Russian Monastery of [[St. Panteleimon's Monastery (Athos)|St. Panteleimon on Holy Mt Athos]] and the Be-jeweled Gospel in the Monastery was printed, signed and given by Catherine the Great of Russia. History and multi-ethnic cultures literally surrounded him. As a young adult, he was Tonsured a Monk and was given the name Theoclitos. He soon traveled to Mt Athos where he was accepted as a resident of the Panteleimon Monastery, where he became fluent in Slavonic and studied Russian language and customs; and made regular visits to the [[Chilandari Monastery (Athos)|Serbian Monastery Hilandar]] learning the Serbian language and customs. He had become fascinated with languages.

The Galveston Parish Board additionally purchased a like adjoining property west of the Church doubling the size of the property in early 1900. But, in his 66th year, on September 8th 1900, Galveston Island was hit by [[w:1900 Galveston hurricane|the greatest natural disaster in United States history when the massive Hurricane of 1900]] came ashore. The Island was almost totally destroyed (est. of 8,000 to 12,000 deaths of a population of 30,000, which included 24 members of the congregation. Fr. Theoclitos and Fr. Mikhail spent 30 hrs in the church praying and giving refuge to parishioners and neighbors that sought safety in the church. After the storm had passed, the Church structure was still standing although it had floated to the west about 10 feet partially onto the additional property just purchased. Those that were with him in the church believed Fr. Theoclitos and his church had truly saved their lives. The congregation gathered and raised the Church, repaired the damage and early in 1902 petitioned Bishop Tikhon, who had since moved the headquarters of the Diocese to New York, to visit and Re-consecrate their repaired Church. Bishop Tikhon accepted and arrived shortly before services on June 3rd 19031901. By order of Tsar Nicholas II, Bishop Tikhon bestowed on Fr. Theoclitos the Royal Honors of (1) the Order Of St. Vladimir and (2) the Order of St. Anne (in his picture, the ribbon and cross like medallion around the neck to his right side is the order of St. Vladimir, the ribbon and medallion around the neck to his left side is the Order of St. Anne and the necklet with the large medallion was awarded him upon attaining his Graduate Degree in Theology from the Moscow Theological Academy).