Saint Sophia (Los Angeles)
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Saint Sophia (in Greek Hagia Sophia, meaning Church of Holy Wisdom), was built by Charles Skouras in 1952, in what was then the Greek section of Los Angeles, California. This Greek Orthodox church is the result of a Hollywood success story. When Charles and his brothers, Spyros Skouras and George Skouras were still trying to get ahead in Hollywood, Charles made a vow to God that he would build the most majestic cathedral if God would grant him success in show biz. He got his wish, becoming head of Fox Coast West. A man of his word, Charles built the Saint Sophia in Los Angeles.
The churce's simple exterior conceals a beautiful interior. Members of the church congregation have included many of Hollywood's actors such as Telly Savalas, whose funeral was held there, and George Chakiris; Sharon Lawrence was married at the church in 2002.
In 2005 at the 36th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the liturgy was given in Spanish, English and Greek, with Orthodox children from a Tijuana, Mexico, orphanage providing music. The Byzantine/Renaissance-influenced cathedral still draws its predominantly Greek congregation of as many as 1,000 from perhaps a 60-mile radius – from throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Los Angeles’ Greek community has never been centralized, as in cities such as New York City and Chicago.
