Source: The National Herald
BOSTON – A modern-day ‘miracle’ has taken place in the Metropolis of Boston, specifically in the state of Massachusetts, where two historic communities -Saints Constantine and Helen in Chicopee and Holy Trinity in Holyoke – have merged or, more accurately, unified. Each of these communities has existed for approximately one hundred years and are located near each other. The number of members, particularly in Saints Constantine and Helen, had declined, making unification necessary and bringing hope for the future of Holy Trinity in Holyoke, which is larger and generally stronger in terms of parishioners.
The unification was announced by the Metropolis of Boston during a Presanctified Divine Liturgy, which was the last service held at the church of Saints Constantine and Helen in Chicopee, presided over by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston. The liturgy was officiated by Fr. Dionysios Koulianos, the presiding priest of the neighboring Saint George community in Springfield, along with Deacon Andreas Boysel. Priests from the Western Massachusetts region were also present. The presiding priest of Holy Trinity in Holyoke is Fr. Thomas Kokotis.
Following the Presanctified Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Methodios, the clergy, and a large gathering of devoted parishioners participated in a solemn yet hopeful procession to the Holy Trinity community in Holyoke. During the procession, the sacred relics that had been housed on the Holy Altar of Saints Constantine and Helen were reverently transferred to their new home on the Holy Altar of Holy Trinity, symbolizing the union of the two communities.
Metropolitan Methodios told the National Herald that “this is a historically significant event for the ecclesiastical life of our Metropolis. The new demographic realities in the area made this unification necessary to strengthen the congregations of both communities numerically, spiritually, and socially, allowing them to move forward with optimism into the future.”
He further emphasized that “this creates favorable conditions and prospects for future generations, as it is the children who will continue the legacy of our Church and our Greek-American community.”
Metropolitan Methodios also spoke warmly about the priests, Parish Councils, and members of both parishes, praising their deep faith, maturity, and integrity in bringing about this unification, which he described as “the work of God.” He expressed hope that “this initiative by the Chicopee and Holyoke communities will inspire other small communities to follow suit in order to ensure growth and sustainability.”
He highlighted that “this historic evening was a celebration of the legacy of Saints Constantine and Helen, which had been a pillar of faith in Chicopee since its founding in 1921. The contributions of its founders, dedicated members, and devout clergy were honored and commemorated with deep appreciation. As this chapter closes, a new one begins for Holy Trinity in Holyoke, which will now continue the shared traditions, history, and faith of both communities. May this new chapter bring spiritual enrichment, community harmony, and continued blessings for future generations.”
A communal dinner followed for the newly unified parish, during which, as a gesture of gratitude and commitment to the future of Orthodox youth, the faithful generously presented Metropolitan Methodios with a check for fifty thousand dollars. These funds will be used for scholarships, allowing children to attend the Metropolis of Boston’s Summer Camp, ensuring that faith and Church traditions continue for the next generations.
According to historical records compiled and published by longtime presiding priest of Holy Trinity in Holyoke, Fr. Haralambos Voulopas, the community traces its origins back to approximately the year 1900.
5 Comments
What? A miracle? This is just a symbol of the decline of Greek Orthodoxy in Massachusetts. When I read the headline, I thought it was something akin to parishes of two different jurisdictions uniting into a pan-orthodox parish in a bigger church, perhaps because the two previous parish churches were close together and too small to fit the crowds of converts. I suppose if my imagination had been correct, then it could’ve been called a proper miracle – instead, it’s spin doctoring demographic decline. Please don’t do that in the future.
There is an all over decline in church attendance worldwide, with increases in specific areas. Chicopee; Holyoke; Springfield; Enfield Ct; Pittsfield Ma,vwhich form W and S Ct borders are devastated mill and factory towns, cities, nothing new that you have a decline, coupled with seculairzation, moves to all over the US. In fact, most of Sts Constantine/Helen is at the larger St George Cathedral Springfield and St Luke East Longmeadow, an offshoot of St George that merged with St Nicholas Enfield Ct,another declining mill town, St Luke serves newcomers in N Ct, also. Enfield Ct has a ROCOR parish, in a new church building, that was formerly in nearby West Springfield, and has grown and thrives under a faithful clergy family, converts.
In addition,there is an OCA parish near St George Springfield which is growing with converts and reverts, migrants from former Russian Empire, a Sunday School has just begun under the new rector, Akathist and discussion weekly, Vespers and Vigils. He came from Europe, and Russia after a decade at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, who is an Ancient Greek scholar who speaks Modern Greek as does the Chancellor whose Presvytera is Greek, the couple lived in Greece, while he is American and English/Russian speaking. There are many conversions in Ludington from the Latino and Black neighborhood: 2 young men, one a recent convert,the 2nd a Reader with years as convert, 5 children including recent babies, Russian wife is the choir director, are both off to St Tikhons Seminary.
St George has many converts as does Holy Trinity Holyoke, some students, other Latino natives from the neighborhood, n merging of the 2 parishes has expanded the small festival in its 4th year,choir and participation doubled, with the original members and converts of the Chicopee church; the sweet spot is the Chicopee church was sold to a new immigrant Egyptian Coptic Church who are keeping the iconstasis and icons, thus a new community continues the life started 100 years ago. Thankfully,these communities have had faithful parishioners and clergy. Please come visit and see.
We have some old churches that operate twice a year. They belong to the archdiocese. What is the GOA procedure for closing such churches?
GOA does not close churches, no such authority, though the Chancellor will try for mergers. Many churches are seeing a resurgence but have no regular priest available.
You do not want to assume a failed parish’s obligations. After charter revision, the archdiocese owns all the parishes, with minor exceptions. If the parish is liquidated, the archdiocese is responsible for all debts and other issues. If they merge the parish with another, the surviving entity is responsible, and under Sarbanes Oxley, all previous, current and future board members. This includes liability for any abuses.