Our Story

 

This Is Our Blessed Story

Over a period of 20 - 30 years the possibility of starting a Parish in Kingston area was discussed. The concern was that the size of the Parish would be too small to support its ministry. For years the Orthodox Christians in the Kingston area traveled to nearby churches in Newburgh and Poughkeepsie for worship and fellowship. These are two parishes that some of the early Greek Orthodox citizens of Kingston had helped to form. 

In the summer of 1959 Mrs. Jennie Chafouleas and Mr. Stephen Larios re-examined the possibility of establishing a Parish in Kingston. Mrs. Chafouleas called a meeting of interested people at her home in September 1959, at which it was decided to form a committee to evaluate the potential for a Kingston parish.

After a series of general meetings, a non-profit religious corporation was formed on March 29, 1960. Chris J. Larios, chairman of the original committee, was elected President of the Parish Council, and the following were original parish council members: George Kakoullis, Vice President; George Georgallis, Secretary; Sarantos Matthews, Treasurer; George Maouris, Charles Athans, John Trataros, James Evangelou, George Kotzias, William Frangis, Peter Kouvarides and Michael Philip.  

Thus began the lengthy process of obtaining an Ecclesiastical Charter from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the formation of a building plan. Our parish council president, sensing a need for help in obtaining our Ecclesiastical Charter, wrote to Ecumenical Patriarch Athenegoras I in May of 1960. Within two weeks, he received a letter from His All Holiness blessing our plan to create a Parish. The original survey indicated the interest of over 140 adults and 73 children. During this initial stage, worship services were celebrated on Saturdays at the Episcopal Church in Kingston bu Fr. Athanasios Chamberas of Kimissis/Dormition Church in Poughkeepsie. A visiting priest came to cover Easter Services. Eventually, Fr. Nicholas Katsoulis was assigned as our first full-time parish priest.

Through the efforts of the Hellenic Women's Club and the Kingston Orthodox Community, funds were raised for the construction of our Church. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on Palm Sunday 1964, and the first Divine Liturgy in our new church building was celebrated on Christmas Day 1964. Saint George Church of Kingston was consecrated by Bishop Silas on April 24, 1966.

All are welcome to join us in worship and fellowship.