Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Houston)
Coordinates: 29°44′27″N 95°23′33″W / 29.740842°N 95.3925179°W
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral is the spiritual home of the largest Eastern Orthodox parish in Houston, Texas. Built in 1950-52 by the Greek community of Houston. From 1967 to 1974, the church was the seat of the Bishop of the 8th Diocesan District of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America. The church provides a variety of ministries and services and houses a number of organizations. It is named for the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and celebrates its feast day on March 25.
Architecture
The cathedral was designed in a Byzantine Revival style and is a single-aisle undomed basilica with a transept. The iconostasis which divides the nave and the altar holds many of the icons from the original 1917 church.
History
The first Orthodox church in Houston was built in 1917 on Walker Street in the downtown area.[1] In 1950, the church had to move due to city construction and because the parish had outgrown its old building. A new church was built on Yoakum Street in the Neartown area. The church was completed in 1952. A community hall named for longtime parishioner S.P. Martel was built next door to the church and still serves the community.
In 1960, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America created Archdiocesan districts to better serve the Greek Orthodox faithful throughout the country and Houston was assigned to the 8th Archdiocesan District which was served by a bishop in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1967. the seat of the bishop for district 8 was moved to Houston, and Bishop Iakovos of Catania arrived in Houston and consecrated Annuciation Church as his new Cathedral. At that time, the diocese included most of the states in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain region and larger parishes in Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Shreveport and Tulsa. The Dean of the Cathedral was Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, who served as priest in Houston from 1965-1991.
In 1967, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Church of the Annunciation, the community hosted a "Greek night." The following year saw the institution of an annual Greek Festival to celebrate Greek culture, food and Orthodox life. In 1970, the parish founded the Annunciation Orthodox School with classes for students from kindergarten through 8th grade.
In 1972, a new bishop was assigned to Houston: Bishop John of Thermon, who was consecrated a bishop in Houston. In 1974, Bishop John moved the see of the Diocese to Denver, Colorado where it has remained ever since.[2] The church in Houston continues to be called a cathedral, however, consistent with the longstanding tradition of many denominations.
The parish today
There are two celebrations of the Divine Liturgy (one in English and the other in Greek and English) each Sunday morning, preceded by Orthros or Matins (morning prayers) and followed by a fellowship coffee hour, with Sunday Church School following the first Liturgy.
The parish operates a Language & Cultural School which provides Greek language and cultural education for all ages every weekday afternoon and evening.
Annunciation Cathedral hosts a variety of ministries. These include the Ladies Philoptochos Society; the Cathedral Choir; GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America); FAITH, HOPE and JOY groups (for young children); PAREA (young adults); AGOSS (singles group). A chapter of Sea-Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America is sponsored by the Cathedral. Other ministries, which meet on a regular basis, include marriage preparation and a grief-support group.[1] Through its Philoptochos Society and other organizations, the Cathedral contributes to charitable organizations in the Houston area and nationwide. These charities include both religious and non-religious agencies which help the poor, the sick and those who are in distress. In addition, volunteers from the Cathedral assist by translating for Greek-speaking international patients in the Texas Medical Center, visiting with patients and preparing food for those who can't do that for themselves.
Houston Greek Festival
Houston Greek Festival was started in 1966 by the members of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral as a "Greek Night". The three day festival is held annually on the first weekend in October (including Thursday) and features Greek food, live Greek music and Greek folk dances, as well as a gift shop and tours of the Cathedral. The Cathedral grounds on Yoakum Boulevard in the Neartown area of Houston are overrun with people during this annual ethnic festival.
Through proceeds from the Greek Festival, donations are made to various charitable organizations, such as Children's Assessment Center, S.E.A.R.C.H., the Women's Home, Covenant House, Texas Emergency Aid Coalition (EAC), and the Star of Hope Mission.
The Annunciation congregation now bills its October festival as "The Original Greek Festival"[3] to differentiate itself from a similar event, "Houston Greekfest", held by St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church on the west side of Houston the first weekend of May every year.[4]