How about we step back to the late 19th century? Chicago was becoming a melting pot of cultures and faiths. Among those arriving were Greeks. They sought to establish a place of worship that would keep their traditions alive. This is the story of the Hellenic Orthodox Church.
In 1885, a Greek couple named Peter and Georgia Pooley moved to Chicago from Corfu. Georgia organized a benevolent society. Its purpose was to establish an Orthodox parish in the city. This marked the beginning of organized Orthodoxy in Chicago.
The first documented Orthodox liturgy was celebrated in 1886. Fr. Misael Karydis from New Orleans led the service. It was held in Berry’s Hall. The Orthodox faithful improvised an altar. They used two dry goods boxes covered with a sheet. The music was performed by Greeks and Serbs. The Chicago Herald noted the generous donations.
Around this time, a Montenegrin saloonkeeper named Krsto Gopcevic wrote to the Russian ambassador. He asked the Russian government to establish an Orthodox church in Chicago. Bishop Vladimir of San Francisco responded. He asked Gopcevic to organize a meeting of all Orthodox Christians in Chicago.
The meeting took place on May 13. The Chicago Tribune sent a reporter. The reporter described a vibrant gathering of Greeks and Slavs. George Brown, a Greek veteran of the Civil War, chaired the meeting. Participants discussed the language for services.
Bishop Vladimir visited Chicago in October 1888. However, this visit did not immediately lead to the establishment of a parish. In 1891, another meeting was held. The aim was to start a parish in time for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
A Greek priest from San Francisco, Fr. Kallinikos Kanellas, visited and celebrated the Divine Liturgy. George Brown told a newspaper. He said that the Chicago Orthodox were working with the Russian Church. They had been promised their own priest as soon as they built a church.
Scandals involving Bishop Vladimir in San Francisco complicated matters. The Chicago Orthodox decided they wanted nothing to do with the Russian bishop. They started looking at other options. Gopcevic wrote to Serbia. Others wrote to Constantinople and Athens.
In April 1892, a priest arrived from the Church of Greece. His name was Fr. Panagiotis Phiambolis. He established Annunciation. It was the second exclusively Greek parish in America.
That same month, Bishop Nicholas sent Fr. Ambrose Vretta to Chicago. He aimed to start a church under the Russians. For the first time in American history, two Orthodox churches answering to different bishops coexisted in the same city.
In response to a request from Gopcevic, the Metropolitan of Belgrade sent Fr. Firmilian Drazic to Chicago. He was to start a Serbian church. The Serbian community was not ready to support its own parish. After six months, Fr. Firmilian returned to Serbia.
In 1893, Chicago hosted the World’s Fair. The Russians had a big exhibit. It included its own Orthodox chapel. The “Parliament of Religions” was held. Archbishop Dionysius Latas, the first Greek bishop to ever set foot in America, participated.
The local Greek priest, Fr. Phiambolis, also spoke. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the traditions of the Orthodox Church. The Greek and Russian communities maintained good relations. In October 1894, the two parishes held joint services at the Russian church. They commemorated the centennial of the Russian mission to Alaska.
The Hellenic Orthodox Church, born from humble beginnings, reflects the resilience and faith of its founders. It stands as a testament to their vision. It is a place where Greek identity and Orthodox traditions continue to thrive in the heart of Chicago.