Canada – Greek Diaspora History

Greek Orthodox Church Toronto

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Toronto

There are more than ten Greek Orthodox churches in Toronto, but the most renowned and oldest is Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Toronto.

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Toronto was founded in 1909, making it the oldest Greek Orthodox church in Canada and, up until 1961, the only Greek Orthodox church in Toronto. It is for this reason, that Saint George’s is often referred to as the “mother church” of the Greek diaspora in Canada.

Greek Diaspora History – Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Toronto

The current church building was built in 1897 by Canadian architect John Wilson Siddall and initially functioned as a synagogue.

In 1937, the parish of Saint George acquired the building and it was consecrated in June 1938 by Archbishop Athenagoras, who later became Ecumenical Patriarch.

Between 1981 and 1987, alterations were made to make the church more Byzantine in its layout and aesthetic decor.

The church interior is unique in being the only one outside of Greece to have been painted in its entirety by the Pachomaioi monks, Theophilos and Chrysostomos, master iconographers from Mount Athos, Greece.

In 2009, Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Toronto celebrated its 100 year jubilee anniversary.

Greek Diaspora History – Other Greek Orthodox Churches in Toronto

Other notable Greek Orthodox churches in Toronto are:

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Toronto, established in 1961
Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Toronto, established in 1962
All Saints Greek Orthodox Church Toronto, established in 1963
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Toronto, established in 1971
Holy Trinity-Panagia Grigoroussa Greek Orthodox Church Toronto, established in 1972
Saint Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church Toronto, established in 1975
Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church Toronto, established in 1981
Metamorphosis Greek Orthodox Church Toronto, established in 1985

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