About Our Parish

Our Mission

The fundamental mission of our parish is to keep and proclaim pure and undefiled the Orthodox Christian Faith of our Church. Our work thus consists of proclaiming the Gospel, participating in the liturgical and sacramental life of Orthodox Christianity, educating our members in the Orthodox Faith, and engaging in philanthropic works through which we participate in the works of God in this world.

At the center of our life is the Divine Liturgy, our worship in which we proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the holy Eucharist. As the Orthodox Church, we believe that our worship is a true, biblical, powerful experience of Almighty God. Every Sunday we celebrate essentially the same liturgy that the early Church celebrated. By maintaining this unbroken Tradition of service and worship, we maintain not only the faith of the Church but also the power of the Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself. As our ancestors worshiped God in truth and Spirit, so does every Orthodox Church across the world today. We hope that your experience with our community is a good one and that our Lord Jesus Christ will abundantly bless you always with His loving grace.

Our Church

The Orthodox Church is a communion of self-governing Churches, administratively independent but united in faith. In America, you'll see several different varieties of parishes that fall under different jurisdictions that reflect the historic ethnic background of that community: for example, the Orthodox Church in America (Russian background), the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America (Middle-Eastern background), and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (Greek background). These different jurisdictions are not “denominations” in the way that different Protestant traditions are split into competing denominations, each with its set of beliefs and practices. Quite the opposite—we are one holy catholic and apostolic church, with an unbroken tradition established by the Apostles two millennia ago, and we are united in theology and spirituality. The jurisdiction of a parish is a question of what bishop holds canonical authority for that parish. While there will be slight differences in liturgical practice from one jurisdiction to another reflecting the different cultural background of each community, we are united in our faith and spirituality.

As for us, we are a parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the episcopal authority of His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston. We are one of the 62 parishes in New England that comprise the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA) is under the spiritual guidance and canonical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Our Patron Saint

Saint George the Trophybearer, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honoured for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia.

His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church which was raised up in his name. (The translation of the Saint's holy relics to the church in Lydda is commemorated on November 3)

His title “Trophybearer” comes from the idea is being victorious, receiving a trophy for efforts and success. His icon depicts this great Saint of the Church riding a large, white horse. The horse symbolizes both strength and purity - the power and perfection of the Christian faith itself. In slaying the dragon, a symbol for the Devil, St. George is able to save the virgin princess, the Church, from the Devil's clutches.

As the Liberator of captives, as the defender of the poor,
as the healer of the suffering, champion patron of Christian kings,
O trophy-bearer and Great Martyr Saint George,
intercede with Christ God that He may grant salvation to our souls.

– Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Cultivated by God, you became manifest as an honorable tiller gathering for yourself the sheaves of virtue. For you sowed with tears but reaped with gladness; in the contest you competed with your blood and came away with Christ. By your intercessions, O Holy One, all are granted forgiveness of sins.

– Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

Our Cathedral Building

Our community has worshiped in our current building since 1940. The church building was originally known as Memorial Church, completed in 1869, where it served as the home of a Congregational community. The design is the work of architects Richard Upjohn and his son Richard M. Upjohn. Following the purchase of the building in 1940, the church underwent some significant changes needed to make the space suitable for Orthodox worship. The pipe organ and the choir, originally located where the sanctuary and altar currently are, were removed; an iconostasis was installed; and iconography was added to the ceiling and walls. The rear of the building was severely damaged by a fire in 1944, but reconstruction was completed the following year. The church was officially consecrated by Archbishop Athenagoras on September 30, 1945. To see a 360-degree panoramic of our cathedral photographed by Seth Thompson, click here.