St. Sophia Parish Celebrates 45th Anniversary With Mortgage Burning

JEFFERSONVILLE, PA — Nearly 400 people gathered at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church on Saturday, September 26, to celebrate the parish’s 45th anniversary and mark the retirement of its mortgage. The evening’s ceremony honored generations of parishioners whose fundraising, volunteer work, and sacrifices helped establish the parish’s present home.

The mortgage-burning ceremony took place at the Fr. John A. Limberakis Cultural Center, with Parish Council President Archon John Pogas joined by Fr. Konstantinos Loukas, former pastor Fr. Peter Thornberg, and parish leaders. As the mortgage was set aflame, the gathering responded with cheers and applause.

The gala featured the national anthems of Greece and the United States, prayer, dinner, a video presentation, and remarks from parish representatives. Archon Thomas Cox served as master of ceremonies and chairman of the Mortgage Burning Committee, while Georgiana Kane spoke on behalf of Philoptochos and Dean Laskaris represented the Building Committee.

Fr. Thornberg, who served the parish during construction of its current church, was honored during the evening. He reflected on his years at St. Sophia and now serves as presiding priest of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Bethesda, Maryland. Fr. Loukas, who became St. Sophia’s pastor in October 2025, also offered pastoral remarks.

St. Sophia made its final mortgage payment in June, ahead of its July 4 fundraising goal. The parish now looks toward the planned consecration of its Byzantine-style church in 2027.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Sts. Peter and Paul Church marked 110 years of Orthodox witness.