History

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Nassau, Bahamas was established in 1932 to serve the growing Greek population that had made Nassau their home. Greeks had been drawn to the Bahamas by the opportunities of island commerce, and their community in Nassau became sufficiently established to build a church of their own on West Street, in the heart of the colonial capital.

The building they erected is one of the finest examples of Eastern European ecclesiastical architecture in the entire Caribbean. Its most distinctive feature is a small octagonal Byzantine tower topped with a groined dome adorned with paintings of saints, a distinctive silhouette on the Nassau skyline that has made the church a beloved local landmark. Inside, stained glass mosaics and hand-carved wooden panels displaying saints and holy figures are illuminated by the warm light of grand chandeliers, giving the intimate space a beauty that has drawn visitors from around the world for nearly a century.

The Annunciation Church serves as the central pillar of Greek community life in the Bahamas, hosting community meetings, dinners, and the highly anticipated Greek Festival held every two years on the church grounds, where the Greek-Bahamian community celebrates their food, wine, culture, and dance with the broader Bahamian community. The church is open to the public for tours and welcomes visitors to its services throughout the week.

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 11-13 West Street in Nassau serves as the only Greek Orthodox parish in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, a member of the Direct Archdiocesan District of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, bringing the ancient Orthodox Christian faith to one of the most beautiful islands in the Atlantic world.