“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
–Exodus 20:12
How We Got Here
Philotimo corporation was created as a not for profit real estate developer with the mission to construct the St. Demetrios Housing complex. Tapping into Orthodox Christian leaders from numerous parishes throughout the Metropolis of New Jersey it established its officers, board of directors, and various committees including the important finance committee. (list members).
Our current development phase includes a goal to raise $2 million to integrate COVID 19 facility enhancements, establish the Orthodox chapel of Panagia Gorgoipoikos - she who hears the prayers quickly and launch a quality community banquet center.
Please note, all condominium sales firstly, be accepted by non-binding reservations; secondly, reservations are fulfilled; then thirdly, converted to final contract sales.
RESERVATIONS ARE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. THERE ARE ONLY 27 UNITS AVAILABLE. RESEVE YOUR NON-BINDING RESERVATION TODAY!
Our Philotimo story began with the efforts spearheaded by our corporation President Judge Marina CORODEMUS, past President of the Parish Council and member of Leadership 100. Judge Corodemus led the initiative by first resolving the long-standing dispute with Elizabethtown gas regarding the remediation of a 100-year-old coal tar company located on the church property where the prior 40-year-old community center was located. Along with Philotimo corporation vice president, retired attorney Ken Doukas, the two reached a settlement with Elizabethtown gas resolving the remediation and compensation for loss of the community center.
Thereafter Philotimo started a long and arduous campaign to get the property the needed redevelopment efforts and rally the local community’s support. During this time, Philotimo endured much misinformation, senseless opposition and unfair adverse accusations hurled at the church's efforts. (news 12 video clip) list of steps taken. Ultimately, Philotimo and the church prevailed, and all city approvals were finally granted. Developer obtained a long term tax exemption for a period of 15 years. Owners will pay an annual service charge to the City in lieu of taxes, at a substantially reduced rate subject to sales price and monthly maintenance.This amount may increase in later years depending on the value of the units and the then tax rate. Philotimo will pass this financial benefit onto its senior residents to assist in enjoying a quality of life within the City for those on modest means.
One of our guiding goals for this complex is to maximize green construction in conformity to the environmental teachings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew leader of the Eastern Church. This complex represents an ideal community on the waterfront of Perth Amboy that maintains ties with and serves the needs of the surrounding residents. Another chief goal held by all Philotimo leaders is to be good stewards to the land and good neighbors to those living by us.
Why St. Demetrios & Why Perth Amboy
St. Demetrios, an established Orthodox Community in Perth Amboy, NJ, recently celebrated its 100th year anniversary. Our residence is located along the waterfront of the Raritan River, in the vibrant urban Central NJ community of Perth Amboy. The city hosts various community, seasonal and cultural events throughout the year, including events along the Historic Waterfront. We are accessible to five Central New Jersey Greek Orthodox Communities, 15 Pan-Orthodox Churches, as well as other houses of faith.
Shopping options in the area include Shop-Rite (2.1 miles), Wegman’s (5.5 miles), and Woodbridge Center Mall (6.2 miles). Area medical facilities include Hackensack Meridian Health Raritan Bay (1.8 miles) and Hackensack Meridian Health JFK Medical Center (9.0 miles).
St. Demetrios is accessible to major roadways including the Garden State Parkway (4.5 miles), NJ Turnpike (4.6 miles) US Highway 9 (6.0 miles), and NJ Highways 35 and 9 (2.1 miles), and is accessible to public transportation including NJ Transit (1.0 mile). The community is also in driving distance to Newark Liberty International Airport, located 17.8 miles away.
Perth Amboy’s places of interest include historic sites such as The Proprietary House, the only official Royal Governor’s Mansion still intact since Colonial times, and the oldest City Hall in continuous use in the U.S, built in 1718.
The city of Perth Amboy is in the midst of a revitalization, with modernization plans for the NJ Transit station and the waterfront area. St. Demetrios is a committed member of Perth Amboy and is an important part of the future Waterfront development, and for the city’s location as an affordable community.
Why Is Green Important In These New Senior Condominiums?
When our property was ravaged by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and subject to environmental remediation by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for a 100-year-old coal tar plant, the parishioners of St. Demetrios heeded the words of our Patriarch and committed ourselves to rebuild in an environmentally conscious design and construction. Our goal is to be good stewards to the land and good neighbors to the community.
For this reason, we have selected energy efficient materials, to the extent possible, for construction and occupancy of these units. This includes using natural materials and energy sources while trying not to injure or damage the environment. In addition, we have tried to incorporate green spaces and positive air and light components that allow residents to enjoy the environment without artificial intrusion of ducts and composite materials.
We try to honor the land we occupy while allowing our occupants to live in an environment of fellowship and dignity. This is the essence of what the ancient Greeks called Philotimo.
For Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, this is a matter of truthfulness to God, humanity and the created order. He condemns environmental abuse as nothing less than sin! At Santa Barbara in November 1997, he declared:
“To commit a crime against the natural world is a sin. For human beings to cause species to become extinct and to destroy the biological diversity of God's creation; for human beings to degrade the integrity of the earth by causing changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of its natural forests, or by destroying its wetlands; for human beings to injure other human beings with disease by contaminating the earth's waters, its land, its air, and its life, with poisonous substances – all of these are sins.”
The environment is not only a political or a technological issue; it is, as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew likes to underline, primarily a religious and spiritual issue. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew invariably relates the environment to a familiar aspect of Orthodox spirituality, namely to the icons that decorate Orthodox churches. Symbols are important in Orthodox thought, worship and life. Creation itself is likened to an icon, just as the human person is created 'in the image and likeness of God' (Gen. 1.26 and Col. 1.15). The Patriarch invites people to contemplate the Creator God through the icon of the created world (Col. 1.16-18).
Why Pan Orthodox?
Eastern Orthodoxy and its churches form a federation according primacy of honor to the patriarch of Constantinople and adhering to the decisions of the first seven ecumenical councils and to the Byzantine rite.
Orthodox Christians believe that they are the Apostolic succession tracing a direct line of Apostolic ordination. Orthodox doctrine, and full communion from the Apostles to the current episcopacy of the Orthodox Church. All three elements are constitutive of Apostolic succession.
It is through Apostolic succession that the Orthodox Christian Church is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Christ that was composed of the holy Apostles. This succession manifests itself through the unbroken succession of its bishops back to the Holy Apostles.