[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 350]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SPRINGFIELD, 
                             MASSACHUSETTS

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                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 4, 2007

  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to pay 
my respects to the First Greek Orthodox Church in Springfield, 
Massachusetts, upon the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
  In 1907 an old house was acquired on Auburn Street, converted into a 
place of worship and it was here that the rapidly growing Greek 
community held their first church services.
  By 1920 the Greek population had grown so large that the Auburn 
Street building no longer could accommodate the members of St. George's 
Greek Orthodox Church. A building fund campaign was soon inaugurated to 
raise the funds to buy a new church. A building was purchased on Patton 
Street which provided adequate facilities for church services, a Greek 
school and administrative offices.
  By 1940 the Greek population had again increased greatly. It was at 
this time that the Congregational Memorial Church at Main and 
Plainfield Streets became available. The Greek community took advantage 
of this opportunity and purchased the Memorial Church and its spacious 
parish house on October 7, 1940. This magnificent Gothic church, built 
in 1866, was designed by the noted architect, Richard Upjohn, with a 
high vaulted ceiling and priceless stained glass windows.
  By 1975 the Church began looking at new sites for a community center 
and by June 1977 it was decided that St. George would expand and stay 
in Springfield. A General Assembly approved plans for a parish center 
by purchasing the old Memorial Square Library Building. The St. George 
Greek Orthodox Church Cultural Center was opened in 1978 and to the 
present time it houses administrative offices, classrooms for Sunday 
and Greek schools, a gymnasium and facilities for social functions. A 
chapel was added to the building in 1986.
  The first Greek immigrants in Springfield brought with them their 
history, their philosophies, their democratic ideals, their courage, 
their culture and traditions, their Greek language and customs, their 
festive celebrations, their foods, music and dance and most of all 
their Greek Orthodox faith which they have handed down from one 
generation to the next all of which we celebrate this centennial year.

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