Here at Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, a vision took root. Fifty families gathered in a school gymnasium in 1959. They were led by Father Bill Chiganos. He had just returned from his first assignment. The families envisioned a Greek Orthodox parish. It would serve the spiritual needs of the western suburbs.
By 1961, the community had grown. It included over 280 families. They raised enough money to buy five acres of land. This is the very land Holy Apostles now occupies.
Construction began in 1964. The first Divine Liturgy in the completed Holy Apostles building happened in June 1965. Holy Apostles has a distinguishing feature. It is the beautiful and colorful mosaic iconography. The mosaics complement the church’s dark brick and rich wood interior.
In 1975, Archbishop Iakovos consecrated Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church. The service was filled with grace mystery and beauty. Today the parish includes over 700 stewards. They offer their time talents and treasures.
Holy Apostles builds on its founding principles. It supports a Christ-centered community with Orthodox values. The community is predominantly English-speaking. Holy Apostles deeply cherishes religious education. The church values service through its ministries. It fosters love among brothers and sisters in Christ. Active participation in the sacramental life is important.
The story of Orthodoxy in Chicago began in the 1880s. In 1885 a Greek couple moved to Chicago. Peter and Georgia Pooley came from Corfu. Georgia immediately started a benevolent society. It included Orthodox Christians regardless of ethnicity. The society’s purpose was to establish an Orthodox parish.
The first documented Orthodox liturgy in Chicago was in 1886. Fr. Misael Karydis from New Orleans led the service. It was held in Berry’s Hall. The Orthodox improvised an altar table. They used two dry goods boxes covered with a sheet. Greeks and Serbs alternated providing the music. About a hundred people attended.
In May 1888 a meeting of Orthodox Christians was held. The Chicago Tribune sent a reporter. The reporter described a diverse group. There were Athenians Spartans and islanders. There were also Slavs of all nationalities.
Bishop Vladimir visited Chicago in October 1888. This visit didn’t lead to a parish. In 1891 another meeting was held. Three Greeks three Russians and three Serbs led it. They hoped to start a parish for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
A Greek priest Fr. Kallinikos Kanellas visited from San Francisco. He celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Fr. Kallinikos had been the priest in Calcutta India.
In April 1892 a priest arrived from the Church of Greece. Fr. Panagiotis Phiambolis established Annunciation. It was the second exclusively Greek parish in America.
Also in April 1892 Bishop Nicholas sent Fr. Ambrose Vretta to Chicago. He would start a church under the Russians. For the first time two Orthodox churches existed in the same city. They answered to different bishops.
In 1893 Chicago hosted the World’s Fair. The Russians had a big exhibit. It included its own Orthodox chapel. A Parliament of Religions was held. Archbishop Dionysius Latas from Greece participated. He was the first Greek bishop to visit America.