Paroisse Saints Archanges Michel et Gabriël – Parochie van de Heilige Aartsengelen Michael en Gabriël

Established in 1926, the Paroisse Saints Archanges Michel et Gabriël – Parochie van de Heilige Aartsengelen Michael en Gabriël has a captivating history. This Greek Orthodox parish church, located in Ixelles, Brussels, at Stassartstraat 92, became a reality thanks to the “Association of Greek Ladies of Brussels”. Their efforts began much earlier. Archimandrite Gennadios Themelis, rector in Antwerp, tried to establish a Greek community and parish in Brussels around 1906. This early attempt didn’t leave a lasting impact. However, the seeds were sown. Two Greek associations emerged in 1920 but failed to establish a parish. It was Archimandrite Patrikios Konstantinidis, the second priest of Antwerp, who enlisted the help of the Greek Ladies of Brussels. Twelve women formed the “Brotherhood of Greek Ladies” on June 1, 1926. This allowed them to purchase property for the future church. The Paroisse Saints Archanges Michel et Gabriël stands as a testament to their vision. The Brotherhood’s founding document, signed on January 8, 1926, reflects their determination to establish a place of worship. Through donations from the small parish community, they raised 170,000 Belgian francs. This enabled them to buy a three-story building on Stassartstraat on February 7, 1933. The ground floor became the church. The first floor served as a school. The remaining floors housed the priest’s residence and the parish office. In April 1933, Archbishop Germanos of Thyateira consecrated the Paroisse Saints Archanges Michel et Gabriël. The businessman I. Klimis sponsored the church. During the German occupation, an iconostasis, with icons painted by Dimitrios Pelekasis, was brought from Greece. The Brotherhood maintained the church and supported the priests who traveled from Antwerp. After the war, the parish resumed its activities. The Brotherhood, with its growing membership, continued to manage the church. In the 1950s, a wave of Greek immigrants arrived in Brussels. This influx led to the acquisition of a larger church on Stalingradlaan from the Flemish Jesuits. The original Paroisse Saints Archanges Michel et Gabriël on Stassartstraat continued to serve the community. With the creation of the Archdiocese of Belgium in 1969, the Stassartstraat church housed the archdiocese’s office. By 1973, the Stalingradlaan church became a separate parish. The Paroisse Saints Archanges Michel et Gabriël hosted daily services and sacraments. However, a disagreement led to its closure in 1974. The revival began with the election of Archimandrite Panteleimon Kontogiannis in 1982. The Brotherhood transferred the building to the Archdiocese of Belgium. The church reopened on October 1, 1989, with Archimandrite Emmanouil Adamakis as rector. The re-consecration took place on November 11, 1995, after restorations. Since 2000, a dedicated room has provided space for catechism classes. The Paroisse Saints Archanges Michel et Gabriël continues to be a vibrant center of Greek Orthodox faith in Brussels.