The Valavanis Family

When you live in close proximity of Ascension Cathedral, our spiritual home, it becomes part of the fabric of not only your life as a whole but also your daily life.  It’s there when you drive by on errands or walk by as you stroll the neighborhood. It transforms you as you are passing by because for that moment no matter what you are thinking, the plans you are making, or the list in your head of the things you need to accomplish to make the day complete, you bring together the fingers of your right hand to cross yourself in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For that moment time pauses.

The ties that our family has to Ascension Cathedral run deep and strong. It is the place where we married, our son was baptized, and is ultimately the place of our final blessing before we are received back into our Lord. It is also the anchor to the community with which our lives are so much richer. An unwritten sense of knowing who we are and what we share as Orthodox Christians flows through Ascension Cathedral bringing us together under the dome of the cathedral and the world outside.

This is why our family has given not only our time and talents, but also financially to Ascension Cathedral. Ridding our church of its mortgage is paramount to its physical survival and passes along to the generations to come the security that, they too, have a spiritual and communal home in which to gather. We have given in the past and we are giving again. This is how we give back to what we have so generously received and is why we have reprised our pledge to Ascension’s Capital Campaign.


The Valavanis Family

The Bobroff Family

The Bobroff family joined the Ascension family in 2004, shortly before the start of the construction of the parking garage, platia and chapel. Over the years, we have supported retiring the debt from this project to lift the burden of this debt from all of those who care about the long term success of the Cathedral. We look forward to the day when the last debt payment is made, so efforts can be redirected to finishing the chapel, as well as focusing financial efforts to the needs of the parishioners and the greater community at large. We are excited to see the great efforts of the parish council encouraging participation from all members of the church community to see this to fruition.

The Bobroff Family

Cathy G. Giouzelis

Celebrating a milestone birthday today and feeling very blessed that the Ascension Community has played such an important part in my life since day one! As I celebrate this special day I salute to ALL of our founding members that always pushed through and never gave up on every project at Ascension. Now its our turn let's do this together and burn this mortgage!

May God Continue to Bless Our Ascension Community!

Cathy G. Giouzelis

Remembering my Baptism Day at Ascension, look how far we have come in developing the Ascension Grounds!

The Broumand Family

Xristos Anesti! In times of sadness, in times of joy, in times of blessings, and in celebration we turn to the Ascension Community for hope, fellowship, and love. We keep our focus on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for comfort, hope, and salvation. It’s been a difficult year, and we have been blessed to have our Ascension Community in our lives for the last 22 years. Together we can pay down our mortgage and help our Cathedral be a beacon of hope for another 100 years.

In Christ’s Love,
The Broumands

The Gowan Family

As members of this community, we have received so many blessings that we are glad to have the chance to give back by helping to retire the Cathedral's debt and further its mission in the community for generations to come!
 
- Geoff & Edith Gowan

The Russell Family

It is our honor and pleasure to contribute to the mortgage retirement!  Ascension is my spiritual home and holds an incredibly special place in my heart! Ascension Summer Camp,  Parish Council, Greek Dancing, Sunday School, GOYA, YAL, Greek School and festivals, these Ascension ministries have had a significant impact on my life. 
 
Scott has been connected to the community for the past 20 years and loves being a part of the Ascension family. We believe it is our responsibility to care for our community and are happy to support Ascension with our time, talents and treasure!

We are so close to burning the mortgage, please join us in supporting our community!
 
May God bless our Ascension Family!
 
Jeanine and Scott Russell 

The Evans Family

“Fully amortizing and retiring our mortgage over the next 3-5 years is important to me because I want to see Ascension Cathedral unencumbered with debt obligations so we can make a greater impact in the community. I foresee Ascension Cathedral being fully supported by stewardship where we do not have to have a Greek Festival and therefore enlist the help of the community with our income and expenses. With the mortgage being paid off and being fully supported through stewardship, we are able to make a greater impact and a beacon for Orthodoxy in Oakland and the greater East Bay through expanded ministries, such as homeless outreach.”
 

Cory Evans Family

The Woods Family

Glory to God!  Kali Anastasi!  Now let’s all come together and burn the mortgage for our children’s children.

With love,

The Woods Family

Tom and Marie Banis and Family

Our family has enjoyed the many blessings the Ascension Cathedral has offered.  It has been a place where we have raised our children in AscensionMom’s Group, Sunday School, Ascension Summer Camp, GOYA, Greek Folk Dance and the beautiful Liturgical services every week as well as our Pascha Services that are coming up.  Our church has taught us to be kind and be thankful for all the blessings God has provided us.

The service to our church in Time, Talent and Treasures has been a part of all our lives since my brother and I have served as the fourth generation as Parish Council President and my father Andrew was a third generation.  My Papou, George Bezaitis served as President and Chairman of the construction of the Cathedral and my Great Papou, John Sardell served as President was a founder of this community.  We hope our children will serve as the fifth generation of service to help continue this wonderful Cathedral we call home.

Tom and Marie Banis and Family

Remember when?

Remember when? In 1973 our Ascension Community burned the prior mortgage, and celebrated with “an evening of joy, a night of thanksgiving.” Now a new generation has its turn to retire the mortgage, and celebrate. Let’s do this together!

John and Despina Bogdanos

We are thankful for our Community Pioneer Members who offered their own homes
for collateral to build our beloved Ascension Church.
Immensely grateful for their vision!

We are proud of our younger generation who continue to serve and volunteer.

Thank you and God Bless you
John and Despina Bogdanos

Maria Sakkis and Family

My name is Maria Sakkis and I am donating to the Ascension Cathedral Capital Campaign in my husband's name. Ted always knew how important it was to donate to churches, monasteries, and people in need. This was something he practiced throughout his life and instilled in his children. I am continuing his legacy.

Maria Sakkis and Family

Anastasios & Anna Konstantin

Our family is all in with “burning the mortgage” and preventing this burden from falling onto our children’s shoulders.

No one ever owns the community they were blessed with. For it is their responsibility to take care of it and pass it on to the future generations in as good or better shape than when they received it!

This mentality is how we all can ensure that we forever will remain Ascension Strong!

In Christ,
Anastasios & Anna Konstantin

Fr. Tom and Presb. Julie Zaferes

Our love for our wonderful parishioners grows each year. Presvytera and I are grateful to our Lord to serve this diverse and talented church. We are honored to offer our commitment to "burn the mortgage". Our donation will be made in honor of the entire Ascension Cathedral community!

In His love,

Fr. Tom and Presvytera Julie