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The History of the St. Sophia
Greek Orthodox Church
Albany, NY
Past Presidents
The History of the St. Sophia Greek rthodox Chu
The
Greek Orthodox Community of Albany was founded in 1922 when a committee of
twelve Greek Orthodox immigrants met and decided to establish a Greek Orthodox
Church in Albany. The Unitarian Church at 8 Lancaster St. in downtown Albany was
purchased in January 1923 and was renamed the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church. They had three objectives: to
acquire a church building; to establish a Greek-School for their children; and
to purchase burial grounds for the Greek Americans in Albany. After various
repairs and redecorations, the Church was opened for worship on August 15, 1923.
A year later, an adjoining four story structure at 10 Lancaster St. was
purchased by the Greek-American Association and was used as a home for the
Pastor. In 1938 Archbishop Athenagoras, the late Patriach of Constantinople,
consecrated the first St. Sophia Church in Albany.
With the acquisition of the Church
facilities by the South Mall project in 1964, the Parish
began planning for the construction of a new Church and
Parish Center on Whitehall Rd. During the interim period
of construction, the facilities of the Episcopal Cathedral
of All Saints were used by the St. Sophia communicants. In
November 1967, the new Parish Center was completed and
served temporarily as a Church. On April 17, 1969
Archbishop Iakovos consecrated the new St. Sophia Church. The Church is a combination of Orthodoxy's traditional Byzantine
architecture with the twentieth century. Membership
comprises approximately 400 families partaking in the life
of the Church through Choir, Sunday School, Philoptochos,
Youth Group, Greek Language classes, Nursery School and
various social and educational functions throughout the
year.
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