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.

Historic Facts:
1st Church Service – December 1984
Initial Benefactor – Bertha Heliotis
 

Founding Board:
Priest – Father Stavros Moschos
President – Peter Diamantakos
Vice President – Ted Tselikis
Treasurer – Dean Heliotis
Secretary – Helen Spanis
Executive Members – Nick Anest, Gus Bilissis,
Gus Koutroubis.
Chanters - Nick Giannouris, Steve Vrountzos
Altar Boys – Mike Diamantakos, Tom Heliotis,
John Giannouris.
 

Founding Philoptochos:
President – Josephine Koutros
Vice President – Christine Heliotis
Treasurers – Athena Anest, Maria Fotopoulos
Secretaries - Rita Karpathios, Helen Spanis
Executive Members– Meropi Diamantakos,
Despina Meridis, Nitsa Pantos, Kalley Revelis,
Anna Vrountzos, Aphrodite Koutroubis.
Priests – Father Stavros Moschos,
Father Kosta Tsangaris, Father Joseph Friej,
Father Makarios, Father Anatoliy Bandura,
Father Pawel Wieliki, Father George Papazoglou.
Presidents – Peter Diamantakos, Peter Gazeas,
Sam Kavalas, Louis Heliotis, Lefteri Papaioannou,
Dino Sardelis, John Spanoyannis, Bill Pidlysny.

Thank You to all of our faithful parishioners, generous donors, dedicated Priests, Chanters, Philoptochos Members, Board Members, Sunday School Teachers, altar boys and the countless other volunteers who made these 25 years possible.