Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Celebrates 100 Years in Charlotte Community
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (September 23, 2023) 100 years ago, on September 23, 1923, the Greek Orthodox Parish of Charlotte was officially organized. Today, the cathedral and its community celebrate its centenary and growth. At first it was a parish with only 30 families; today, the Church has a parish of more than 1,200 families.
HISTORY– The first Greeks settled in Charlotte around 1910. Initially the group numbered only 20 individuals, but the group grew with the start of World War I to approximately 50 men, women and children. In 1923, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America gave the parish its blessing to worship and officially become a parish.
However, without a worship building, the first religious services were held in the Chamber of Commerce building. But as the community grew, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) chapter eventually rented an upstairs room on East Trade Street for worship. The small parish began its mission of maintaining the religious and cultural qualities of the Greek people.
In 1929, the 50 families of the parish purchased the old Westminster Presbyterian Church. The church was located on South Boulevard and was renovated with a Greek Orthodox sanctuary and was renamed Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
In 1951, the Holy Trinity community purchased the Jones Estate and Manor, the property where the current cathedral stands today.
In 1954, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral opened at 600 East Boulevard in Dilworth.
TODAY– Our beloved parish has grown from approximately 30 families in 1923 to more than 2,500 families in the Charlotte area today. Our ministries range from youth activities to education, athletics, service, liturgy and much more.
EVENTS– On Saturday, September 23, nearly 900 people will gather at The Revelry for the Centennial gala celebrating the 100th anniversary. In attendance will be four hierarchs of the Orthodox Church – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros – Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta – Metropolitan of Metropolitan Atlanta (serving NC, SC, GA, AL, FL and parts of TN and MS), His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa, Metropolitan of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese of America (and native of Charlotte), and His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos. Also in attendance will be several former clergy serving Holy Trinity, as well as former Charlotte Mayor and North Carolina State Governor Pat McCrory, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L. McFadden and Mr. Giorgios Fostiropoulos, consul of the Greek embassy.
The weekend’s activities will culminate with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral and a community luncheon celebrating the youth and future of Charlotte’s Greek community.
Photos: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
