“What a fabulous event!” was the oft-heard remark following the conclusion of the first-ever concert and silent-auction fundraiser held at Protection of the Holy Virgin church on Argyle Ave in Hollywood on Sunday, February 21.  The concert featured the performance of classical guitarist Taso Comanescu, a decade-long parishioner of the Argyle church, playing compositions that ranged from the Renaissance to the 20th century and featured countries which spanned the globe from Spain to South America.  Comanescu prefaced each piece with an explanation - sometimes about the composer and the origin of the piece, sometimes about the technique used to play that particular song, and always with a description of what the music intended to evoke.

Coinciding with the concert was a silent auction of nearly fifty items - a few donated by members of the parish and the remainder solicited by the three intrepid ladies who organized the auction: Matushka Sarah Person, Matushka Natalie Horsley, and Elaine Adams.  Nearly every item was sold, a few at full retail value.  There was a wide range of items on offer - everything from a large scale icon of St. John the Forerunner, original oil paintings and Disneyland Park Hopper tickets to hair salon services and Russian shawls.  Guests at the event were able to partake of champagne and savory hors d’oeuvres as they perused the auction items and made their bids.  All told the concert and silent auction netted the Protection of the Holy Virgin parish just over $11,500, well exceeding the original goal set for the event.