In 1897 a small group of Greeks met in Melbourne. They had a shared dream. They wanted their own church. This wasn’t just any church. This was the beginning of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria. It started in the modest shop of Grigoris Matorikos. They pooled their resources. They even sent a letter and money to the Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1895. Their request for a priest was initially unanswered.
Undeterred they tried again in 1897. Archimandrite Dorotheos Bakaliaros briefly helped. He then departed for America in 1898. Their perseverance paid off. In 1898 Father Athanasios Kantopoulos arrived in Melbourne. The community rejoiced. Their dream was becoming a reality. They welcomed him with indescribable joy. The next step was monumental. They needed a church building.
The community collected money. By 1899 they had £125. They secured land for £600. This involved a loan from three key figures. These were Grigorios Matorikos Alexandros Maniakis and Antonios J J Lekatsas. Each contributed £160. On December 19 1900 the foundation stone of the Evangelismos church was laid. It was completed by 1902. This was a huge achievement for such a small community.
In 1902 a conflict arose. Father Kantopoulos wanted the church for the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The community council strongly disagreed. They wanted the church to belong to the Greek Community of Melbourne. They convened a Special General Meeting. This meeting was attended by 105 members. They passed a Constitution unanimously. They declared the Church of Greece as their spiritual head. Three trustees were appointed. This secured the church as the property of the Greek community. This was a crucial turning point in its history.
The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne played a vital role in supporting Greece. In 1906 they sent £187 to help the Greek army and navy. Following the Balkan Wars in 1912 they donated £2472. They showed their patriotism. They supported their homeland. The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria is more than just a church. It is a testament to the resilience faith and community spirit of the early Greek settlers in Australia. It’s a living legacy. A place of worship. A place of community. A place of history.