THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE HAMPTONS WELCOMES A NEW PUBLIC SCULPTURE BY GEORGE PETRIDES

Southampton, NY (October –  2024): The Dormition of the Virgin Mary, The Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons, has welcomed a new outdoor sculpture, Constantine Regarding the Cross, an over-lifesize bust by sculptor George Petrides. The piece is inspired by Constantine I, an important figure in world history due in part to his role in establishing Christianity. The piece is on permanent display on the church grounds near St. Andrews Road.

Sculptor George Petrides said: “I am honored that Father Alex Karloutsos, Protopresbyter of The Dormition of the Virgin Mary, and the Community have invited “Constantine” to be part of the Church’s integrated works of art which include exceptional iconography, mosaics, stained glass and wood carvings - not to overlook two sculptures by Santiago Calatrava.” 

Previously installed on the grounds of the Church is a large steel cross that was forged from salvaged girders from the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The new bust has been positioned so that it is “looking” at the 9/11 cross, referencing the historic episode of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, during which Constantine was said to have had a vision of a cross in the sky, and then instructed his soldiers to paint the symbol of the Cross on their shields and enter battle, in which they prevailed.

Father Alex Karloutsos stated, “George’s extraordinary art reminds all of us—not only Orthodox Christians—of our Hellenic foundations, grounded in the concept of Eleftheria-Freedom, so we can freely and wisely use them today to create a better day tomorrow for all humankind. Constantine ushered in an era of religious tolerance and mutual understanding, laid the groundwork for the Holy Roman Empire and established Constantinople as one of the greatest cities in the history of the world.  It all began with his vision of the Cross, and through the Cross, he actually placed Christianity at the heart of Western Civilization.

“It was Constantine who called for the Church’s First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325 AD, where Jesus was officially proclaimed by the Empire ‘the only begotten Son of God.’ George captures the amazement of a young General who then amazingly turns a pagan Roman Empire into worshiping the ‘Son of God’ who was crucified and on the third day rose again. That same amazement inspired us as we built the new Saint Nicholas Shrine at Ground Zero and our brand new Church-Community complex in the Hamptons. We are grateful to George for his unique vision."

As with his Hellenic Heads exhibition and other work, Petrides looked for sculptural precedents that could serve as touchstones when he was working through his own creative process: “I found the colossal heads of Constantine the Great at the Capitoline Museums in Rome and The Met in New York as these were the literal predecessors of my work, although the sculptural style did not appeal much to me. For that I looked to Michaelanglo’s Brutus in the Bargello of Florence, from c. 1539.”

Historical Background

Christianity was preached on the Greek peninsula in the first century, but it was not until the era of Constantine and his legalization of Christianity that the religion spread rapidly throughout what is now modern-day Greece. Under Constantine, Christianity evolved from being a fringe sect to being the central religion of the empire. Eastern Orthodoxy is still by far the dominant religion of Greece. Up to 90% of Greek citizens identify as Christian, and the church is a major force in the cultural landscape, seen in traditions like holidays and name days. 

Though contemporary historians debate how Constantine individually felt about Christianity over the course of his life, the medieval Christian church held him up as an example of extreme virtue, and even today, the Eastern Orthodox Church considers Constantine a saint and an equal of the apostles.

The Dormition of the Virgin Mary

The Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Southampton, often referred to as the Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons, is led by Father Alexander Karloutsos and Father Constantine Lazarakis. Father Constantine stated: “Our parish has been serving Long Island’s East End since 1981. For over four decades, it has been the spiritual home to Orthodox Christians from a variety of cultural backgrounds, including Greeks, Romanians, Russians, Ukrainians  and Antiochians, as well as to a growing number of converts to Orthodoxy. In addition to providing for the religious and spiritual needs of its congregation, our Church has become a leader in philanthropy in the Hamptons, working with and supporting local, national and international charities.”

Father Constantine detailed some of the church’s initiatives: “In 2013 we completed our new sanctuary and new cultural center, The Muses, which has allowed us to expand our activities, including programs for adults on the autism spectrum. Each August we have our Blue Dream Gala, which has raised millions of dollars for charitable causes, including most recently for Suffolk County’s first Ronald McDonald House. The Muses, our cultural center, hosts many events beyond our Orthodox faith: art exhibitions, musical events, educational classes, and celebrations. Not to be overlooked is our Hamptons Greek Festival each July, one of best attended and beloved festivals on Long Island.”