Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you.

We write with joyful news and sacred purpose: our Parish continues to move forward with the establishment of The Churchyard at Saint Paul’s Chapel—a consecrated resting place rooted in the Orthodox tradition, shaped by the theology of beauty, and dedicated to the hope of the Resurrection.

To ensure the lasting care and faithful stewardship of this sacred ground, the General Assembly has approved the transfer of the cemetery to a nonprofit limited liability company, governed independently of the Church by a dedicated Cemetery Board. Before this transfer may take place, two final conditions remain: the sale of forty plots with funds held securely in trust, and the formal adoption of the cemetery’s rules and regulations.

We are blessed to report that thirty plots have already been reserved. As we await the final ten, we hold the funds in trust, in good faith, and in full alignment with the requirements for incorporation.

The Parish Council has appointed a group of devoted individuals to serve on the inaugural Cemetery Board. Drawing upon the varied gifts of our community, these stewards have organized themselves into four working committees:

• The Rules Committee has been served by Fr. Gregory Edwards, Dennis Pantazis, Keith Deason, and Chum Atkins;
• The Finance Committee by Charles Valekis, Harry Kampakis, and Alex Kontos;
• The Site Committee by Tom Stevens, Jimmy Dikis, and Bill Morris; and
• The Communications Committee by Elaine Lyda, Matt Dorning, and Neal C. Evans, Jr.

Together, these committees have completed the foundational work entrusted to them: the cemetery’s rules have been drafted, the site design approved, the name confirmed, and the financial plan set forth.

📄 To read all supporting materials—including the rules, site plan, and financial documents—please visit: stpaulschurchyard.org/rules

The Churchyard itself—nestled behind St. Paul’s Chapel at Camp Vakakes—will soon begin construction. This is a rare and meaningful opportunity to prepare, with love and foresight, a place of rest for yourself or for those whom you hold dear. Space is limited, and the community has already begun to gather its families side by side.

We invite you to visit stpaulschurchyard.org to learn more about eligibility, explore the master plan, and read Sacred Ground, a reflection on the Orthodox understanding of burial and the dignity of the body in death.

As with all things eternal, this work is not merely administrative but spiritual. It is an offering. It is a witness. And it is an act of love that will endure across generations.
 
With love in Christ,
Your Parish Churchyard Committee
Holy Trinity–Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral