Montréal QC Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (GOC) 1956

Montréal, Québec : Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (GOC), 1956

Prehistory

The prehistory of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George in Montréal, Québec, Canada, may be found in the histories of the Evangelismos and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox parishes in Montréal.

After World War II, the Government of Canada relaxed immigration restrictions, and many Greek-speaking families were able to sponsor the immigration to Canada of family-members.

As a consequence, the Holy Trinity Temple soon became over-crowded, and it was obvious that another Temple was needed.

In 1954, the Greek Community of Montreal established a fund towards the enabling of this end. Active fundraising followed in 1955.

Establishment of the parish

By 1956, the Hellenic Community of Greater Montréal (HCGM) laid the technical foundation for the new parish of Saint George in Montréal by organising the legal framework of its existence. Saint George’s became the third Greek Orthodox Temple to be established in Montréal.

Purchase of land

On 24 October, 1956, the Hellenic Community of Greater Montréal purchased a choice piece of land (303,000 square feet/ 28,149.6211square metres) for the price of $290,000, on the corner of Chemin de la Côte-Ste-Catherine Road and Avenue Wilderton, where St-George’s Cathedral and the Community Centre would be constructed.

Construction

In May, 1959, the construction of Saint George’s Cathedral commenced at 2455 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Montréal.

On 24 May, 1959, Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis), Archbishop of North and South America, led the service of laying the foundation-stone of the new Temple.

Saint George’s Cathedral was designed by world-renowned Architects, Dimitris Dimakopoulos and Kimon Karagiannis.

The construction of the Temple was realised, thanks to the efforts of the Greek-speaking Montrealers who worked tirelessly to fund its construction, brick by brick.

On 28 May, 1961, the Temple was sufficiently completed that the initial blessing was performed, and services began to be offered in the Temple (which was still being completed).

Sanctification of the Temple

On 6 January, 1962, the Sanctification of the Temple was performed, and the regular life of the parish of Saint George began.

Iconostas

Interior

Construction of the Hellenic Community Centre of Montréal

On 1 November, 1981, the construction of the “Centre hellénique communautaire de Montréal” began just behind the Cathedral Temple of Saint George, at 5757, Avenue Wilderton.

On 1 September, 1982, the construction of the “Centre hellénique communautaire de Montréal” at 5757 avenue Wilderton, Montréal, was completed.

The Hellenic Centre

This complex, which covers a total of 76,000 square feet (7,060.6310 square metres), includes École primaire Socrates – Campus II with 27 classrooms, gymnasium, cafeteria, Grande Salle, the Greek Library, 106 outside parking spaces.

On 15 December, 1982, the Head Office of the Community was moved to 5757 avenue Wilderton.

Also in 1982, the Community led in the establishment of the Hellenic Canadian Congress.

In 1982, the Montréal Institute of Hellenic Studies and Archaeology is established.

In 1983, The Community’s Centre d’ Études Grecques de Montréal was established.

In July, 1984, the first stage for the unification of the Communauté hellénique de la Rive-Sud de Montréal with the Communauté hellénique de Montréal was initiated, and the construction of the Centre hellénique Communautaire de la Rive-Sud at 5220 Grande Allée, Saint-Hubert, QC, began.

In October, 1984, the construction of the Foyer hellénique pour personnes âgées at 5775 avenue Wilderton commenced.

On 1 July, 1985, the construction of the Foyer hellénique pour personnes âgées was completed. It has 7 floors, and contains 80 apartments : 5 studios, 50 of 3 ½, 5 of 3 ½ handicapped, 20 of 4 ½, office space on the ground floor for the Head Office of the Community and 29 inside (garage) parking spaces. (Total 80,000 sq.ft.).

On 15 September, 1985, the École hellénique Omeros of the Communauté hellénique de la Rive-Sud de Montréal merged with École hellénique Platon of our Community and is called École hellénique Platon-Omeros (Plato-Homer).

On 15 November, 1985, the Head Office of the Community moved to 5777 avenue Wilderton. Its offices on Saint-Laurent were later on, in 1988, converted into a day-care centre for 46 children.

)n 4 October, 1987, the Greek Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri (accompanied by a group of Greek government officials) inaugurated the Hellenic Community Centre of Montréal. Because of this event, the first Greek Month in Canada, a series of cultural events and lectures, took place in collaboration with the Greek Government and the Greek Organisations across Canada.

In 2006. the Hellenic Community of Montréal celebrated its 100th Anniversary, a tribute to thousands of Greek Canadians who, since 1906, worked hard to preserve the roots of Hellenism, and to keep the values that unite them as Québecois and Canadians.

In 2010, the Hellenic Community of Montréal was officially united with the Greek Orthodox Community of Laval, which formed a new organisation under the name “Hellenic Community of Greater Montréal” with a 27-member Board of Directors, and 3 Regional Councils. This new organisation then consisted of : 2 trilingual daytime, primary schools (“Socrates” and “Démosthène”) in 6 campuses ; 3 Complementary Education Schools (Aristotelis,Platon-Omeros and Saint-Nicolas), in 4 campuses ; 6 churches ‘ 6 daycare centres ; 6 sports centres ; 2 Youth Departments ; Boy Scout and Girl Guide Troops, and Social Services in the Montréal, Laval, and South Shore areas.

In July, 2015, Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas) and HCGM President Nicholas T. Pagonis signed an Agreement which put an end to the $600 payment made by parishioners directly to the Metropolis for holy sacraments held in HCGM Churches.

Major repair and renovation, 2017

In 2017, a major repair and adjustment of the structure of the Cathedral of Saint George was undertaken, 56 years since the first Divine Liturgy in 1961.

Saint George’s Cathedral has served the community well in times of joy and sorrow, with thousands of Divine Liturgies, marriages, baptisms, funerals, and other services of need for the people. The cathedral, in fact, a place of worship and inspiration, a meeting hub, a landmark, a heritage site, and a source of joy for all Greek Montrealers, no matter which Temple they frequent.

With the passage of time, the building had begun to show its age, and the need for major repairs. For the first time since the cathedral opened its doors in 1961, an official fundraising campaign was launched for a restoration project divided into 4 phases, and slated to be completed within 2 years at a total cost of $1,875,000.00.

Already, Phase 1 of the restoration project had begun, and was completed by the end of the summer at a cost of $550,000.00 (before tax). This includes the reconstruction of the front walkway, new retaining walls, and drainage to protect the foundations of the cathedral. As of 1 July, 2017, $415,700,00 had been raised, and the balance was raised by the end of the summer.

Construction

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada and All the Arctic, 2019

In 2019, the Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) was elevated to the dignity of Archdiocese. Thus, the official title of the diocese became “Holy Archdiocese of Canada and All the Arctic”, and alternatively, “Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada”.

Thus, Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas) was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop, with the title “Archbishop of Canada and All the Arctic”, and alternatively, “Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Canada”.

Hellenic Community Centre of Montréal information

The organisation has served the Greek population in the greater Montréal area since 1906, and it grew to represent citizens of Hellenic origin in Montréal, Laval, and the South Shore.

Hellenic Community Centre of Montréal/Centre hellénique communautaire de Montréal

5777, Avenue Wilderton

Montréal, Québec

H3S 2V7

The office is open Monday through Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 and it is closed on weekends.

Telephone : (514) 738-2421

E-mail : info@hcgm.org

Web-site

Facebook

All HCGM Churches are administrated by the Community’s Board of Directors and as a “body” are under the ecclesiastic and spiritual authority of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada). Each church is managed by its Dean. All churches are supported by their Church Committee and Ladies Benevolent. In addition to its own Church Committee, Saint-John the Baptist church is supported by the Ladies Auxiliary.

Each Church keeps its own archives where all sacraments and ceremonies are recorded. Additionally St.-George Cathedral keeps Holy Trinity Church archives as well as the registry book. The General Archives and Register of Records are under the authority of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) who issues licenses, marriage, and birth certificates, and the like.

By 2024, the Hellenic Community of Greater Montréal was operating 6 parishes : Saint George Cathedral (1961) ; Evangelismos (Annunciation) (1909) ; Koimisis (Dormition) (1968) ; Saint John the Baptist (1984) ; Saint Nicholas (1971) ; Holy Cross (1991) . There were 3 regional councils of the community : Montréal, South-Shore, Laval.