History:

History of Holy Cross -

Saint Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church at Crown Hill Ontario

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s a handful of Greek families held intermittent church services in Orillia at St. James Anglican Church. Most times it was once a month on Sunday afternoons. Three priests held these services. Father Philip Giffin was the first; Father Angonstine the second; and Father Stavros Moschos the third.

 In late 1982 Bishop Sotirios received a letter from the late Bertha Heliotis stating her willingness to donate $20,000.00 towards the establishment of a Greek Orthodox Church in this area. The Bishop then organized a meeting at the Holiday Inn in Orillia. He invited members of the Greek Canadian Northern Association and the Barrie districts Greek Canadian association as well as all other Greek families. The meeting was well attended and the Bishop spoke about the need to organize and establish a Greek Orthodox Community in the area. He also informed them that a member in the area had pledged a sizeable amount towards the establishment of a church somewhere central in Simcoe County.

 The impetus of this meeting and the enthusiasm of Father Stavros encouraged the faithful to start holding services at St. James Anglican Church twice a month. The committee and Father Stavros began investigating sites to either build or rent a premise to conduct services. A number of sites were looked at in Orillia but none proved to be suitable. Finally, Father Stavros announced that he had discovered the perfect location and premise for the Church. He took the committee to the present site of the church and said that Bishop Sotirios would speak personally to the Anglican Bishop of Ontario about securing this premise at a reasonable rent.

 The committee thought the location was ideal but the refurbishing of the long abandoned Anglican Church would be costly. Nevertheless it was agreed that the proposed refurbishment would proceed and the committee would embark on a money raising effort. With the $20,000.00 donation as a starting point the church was on its way.

 In December of 1984 the inaugural service was conducted at the Crown Hill location and services were initially held twice per month. Father Stavros steered the fledgling community and convinced the founding board to become a full time church with services every Sunday. Father Stavros guided the Church for 10 years. He was replaced by Father Kostas. Father Stavros then returned for a short time before being replaced by Father Joseph Friej. Father Joseph remained until his recent death (2006). Father Makarios filled in for a few months until a new full time priest was found. The church is now guided by Father Anatoliy Bandura.

 The founding church board consisted of:

            President – Peter Diamantakos

            Vice President – Ted Tselikis

            Treasurer – Dean Heliotis

            Secretary – Helen Spanis

            Executive Members – Nick Anest, Gus Bilissis, Gus Koutroubis.

The founding chanters were Nick Giannouris and Steve Vrountzos.

The founding Philoptochos consisted of:

            President – Josephine Koutros

            Vice President – Christine Heliotis

            Treasurer – Athena Anest

            Secretary  - Rita Karpathios

            Executive Members – Meropi Diamantakos, Helen Spanis.

Founding Altar boys were Mike Diamantakos and Tom Heliotis.