On May 3rd, 1908, the Danaos Society, the first Atlanta parish organization, was founded by a group of 40 immigrants from the city of Argos, Greece. That founding meeting was held in the first Church of the Annunciation, then located at the corner of Central Avenue and Garnett Street in Atlanta, Georgia, under the leadership of George Seimenis and a committee consisting of Thanos Tsakopoulos, Chris Cochakos, George Blatsos, George Kouloukis and Basilios Georgopoulos, who in turn elected Thanos Tsakopoulos as its first president. Danaos Society is dedicated to the principles and teachings of Saint Peter, Bishop of Argos. Known as the Wonder Worker, Saint Peter of Argos abandoned the quiet life of a monk, and, in a time of spiritual crisis in Argos, was sought by the people of Argos to be their Bishop. Saint Peter consented, and was consecrated. He was a scholar and eloquent speaker, but, above all, he was a great humanitarian and true spiritual father. He would turn no one away who sought his help, friend or foe. Saint Peter of Argos was profoundly admired, loved and respected not only by his own people, but even by the enemies of his people. Miracles were attributed to his prayers both while he lived and after he slept in the Lord. He is commemorated on May 3rd.

At the inception, Danaos Society was a staunch supporter of Greece and of Argos. Initially, one of the main purposes of Danaos Society was establishing dowries for marriage of poor and orphaned girls of Argos.  The Church of the Lifegiving Spring of the most Holy Virgin Mary of Kefalariotisa, southwest of Argos, was originally built in 1634 and was destroyed in an explosion on May 18, 1918.  The traumatic explosion destroyed the church except for the Holy Altar and the Holy Icon of the Virgin Mary, which, by the grace of God, remained upright and intact.  Today’s church was re-built at the original site and consecrated in 1928, thanks contributions from Danaos Society in Atlanta.

Danaos Society remained dedicated to helping our own church and has been a leader in the Atlanta parish, with many accomplishments through the years.

As time passed, Danaos Society sensed a great need for a community center for our Parish. Under the leadership and generosity of Victor Brown, Gregory Blatsos and George Kotsoyianis, who each made significant contributions, the property at 2124 Cheshire Bridge Road was purchased by Danaos Society in 1954. President Victor Brown appointed Charles N. Dodys as chairman of the building committee and George Javo as the architect. The original Hellenic Center was completed in 1956, with the help of the parish organizations and the community at large.

Showing its generosity, Danaos Society donated the Hellenic Center, through the Hellenic Center Corporation, to our Cathedral of the Annunciation on May 30, 1976. The original Hellenic Community Center served our community until 1999, and the proceeds from its sale were the most significant contribution to the construction of our present Hellenic Community Center which was dedicated on November 23rd, 2002.

For more information about Danaos Society, please contact President Art Pappas at (404) 255-6946.

This page was last updated on 2/03/08