The "Greek Orthodox Church Celebrates 100 Years In Lancaster, Pennsylvania" Story

It was an ordinary day.  My story today goes back to the 1920s when a few families who'd immigrated from Greece hoped to find fellowship, family and a place to worship in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  In 1923 they established the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. which at the time had 185 men who identified themselves as members of the church.  

These "first-comers" settled in Lancaster hoping for opportunities and employment that they couldn't find in their home countries.  They worked hard, married, started families and excelled in their new home of Lancaster.  This year they are celebrating 100 years of their Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in the city of Lancaster.  Today, that small group of young men celebrate 100 years of parish life with a congregation of close to 550 families.  Today's church goers think back to the many relatives that originally came from Greece and started the church long ago.  The traditions and history of that church have kept the many families, as well as community, together today.  The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church has grown over the past 100 years and now has over 20 ethnicities which are represented in the church's parish.  Some of those locations that are represented in today's church are Russia, Romania, Serbia and Egypt with the main base being Greek immigrants.  The parish's Priest is Rev. Hector Firoglanis who states that the congregation's diversity has grown by gaining new members through marriage and conversion.  The church first opened in a building located at 215 S. Queen Street in the city of Lancaster and eventually moved to 64 Hershey Ave. in 1960 which its located on the west side of town.  

The original church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Ten years ago the congregation added an educational and social center to the current church.  The parish has had to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic while planning for their current 100th Anniversary.  Rev. Firoglanis told his parishioners that the Greek Orthodox people have been through many pandemics throughout it's 2,000 year history and if we can stay together, maintain our faith in Christ and our love for our neighbor, the pandemic is going to make us stronger with a more tightly knit community.  Today every service is live-streamed, but that really was begun before the pandemic arrived.  The church also livestreams Bible studies.  Many of today's churches are losing hope in the youth of America and the future, but the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church tells that it has amazing young people in their church.  Today there is a preschool program, a Sunday school program for students from 4 years old to seniors in high school as well as a college fellowship program with Millersville University and Franklin & Marshall College.  

Interior of the Greek Orthodox Church

All these experiences have been part of the church for many years.  Rev. Firoglanis says that "We want our kids to have the beautiful experiences we all had growing up.  It gives you really a sense of identity and character, because you can get lost in the world...but here, this is our foundation, it is our faith...we all realize how important it is for our children to have that." They are bringing back to life the warmth and sincerity that they once had when they first began their parish 100 years ago in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Recent photograph of the Greek Orthodox Church