Greek Orthodox Churches in the Metropolis of Chicago

Explore Greek Orthodox churches across the Metropolis of Chicago, including parish locations, communities, history, and traditions.

About the Metropolis of Chicago · FAQ

Interior of a Greek Orthodox church featuring Byzantine iconography on the ceiling

Kimisis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church of Racine WI

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Louis MO

The Twelve Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church of Duluth MN

Holy Taxiarhai and Saint Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church of Niles IL

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Decatur IL

Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago IL

Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Rockford IL

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church of Elgin IL

Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Libertyville IL

Saint Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church of Palatine IL

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Wauwatosa WI

Saints Constantine & Helen Cathedral of Merrillville IN

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Schiller Park IL

All Saints Greek Orthodox Church of Joliet IL

Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church of Springfield IL

Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago IL

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Hegewisch IL

Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church of Des Plaines IL

Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church of Westchester IL

Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Swansea IL

Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Hammond IN

Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church of Cedar Rapids IA

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago IL

Saint Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church of Minneapolis MN

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Sioux City IA

Transfiguration of our Lord Greek Orthodox Church of Mason City IA

Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Wauwatosa WI

Saints Athanasios and John Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago IL

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Madison WI

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Fond du Lac WI

Saint Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church of Valparaiso IN

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church of Des Moines IA

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago IL

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church of Schererville IN

Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of Palos Heights IL

Saint Luke the Evangelist Greek Orthodox Church of Columbia MO

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church of Justice IL

Annunciation Cathedral of Chicago IL

Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church of Champaign IL

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Paul MN

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Louis MO

Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Palos Hills IL

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church of Rock Island IL

All Saints Greek Orthodox Church of Peoria IL

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Oak Lawn IL

Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Elmhurst IL

Saint Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church of Aurora IL

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of East Moline IL

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Kankakee IL

Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church of Lincolnshire IL

Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church of Dubuque IA

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church of Dekalb IL

Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church of Glenview IL

Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church of South Bend IN

Holy Anargyroi - Saints Cosmas & Damianos Greek Orthodox Church of Rochester MN

Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago IL

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Homer Glen IL

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Waterloo IA

Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of Sheboygan WI

GREEK CHURCHES OF AMERICA

About the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago is the north-central regional jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, covering the states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and southeastern Missouri. Its 58 parishes and two monastic communities are concentrated heavily in the greater Chicago metropolitan area, with older congregations rooted in the industrialized cities of the Midwest and newer parishes that have followed the demographic shift of Greek-American families into suburban communities over the past several decades. Metropolitan offices are located in Lombard, Illinois, and the cathedral church is the Annunciation Cathedral at 1017 North LaSalle Boulevard in Chicago.

Chicago has one of the oldest and most historically significant Greek Orthodox communities in the country. The Annunciation Cathedral was established in 1892 by Greek immigrants who had come predominantly from Laconia and the Greek islands, making it the first Greek Orthodox church in Chicago and one of the earliest in the nation. The founding community rented a hall on Randolph Street near Union and petitioned the Holy Synod of Athens for a priest. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in March 1892. By 1909 the congregation had purchased the lot on North LaSalle where the cathedral stands today, and construction was completed in 1910 at a cost of approximately $100,000. Modeled after a cathedral in Athens, the building remains the oldest surviving structure in Chicago constructed in the Byzantine style. Archbishop Athenagoras named it the Cathedral of the Second Archdiocesan District in 1942.

Chicago was formally identified as a hierarchal see in 1923 with the appointment of Bishop Philaret as the city's first Greek Orthodox bishop. In 1968 the area was designated the Second Archdiocese District of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America. Following the 1979 reorganization decree of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it became the Diocese of Chicago, and was elevated to the rank of metropolis in December 2002.

Metropolitan Nathanael was unanimously elected by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on February 7, 2018, and enthroned at the Annunciation Cathedral on March 24, 2018. He is the second Metropolitan of Chicago, succeeding Metropolitan Iakovos, who served the jurisdiction for 38 years and whose long tenure shaped much of the character of Orthodox life across the Midwest. Metropolitan Nathanael has pursued a strategic planning initiative across the Metropolis and has expanded programming for youth and young adults.

Two monasteries operate within the Metropolis: the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Monastery in Harvard, Illinois, and the Holy Monastery of Saint John Chrysostomos in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Their presence in the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin countryside reflects the monastic dimension of a jurisdiction that, while centered on one of the country's largest urban areas, extends well into the rural Midwest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago?

The Metropolis of Chicago is the north-central regional jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, responsible for 58 parishes and two monastic communities across the Midwest. It operates under the spiritual authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and is led by Metropolitan Nathanael, who participates in the Holy Eparchial Synod alongside the hierarchs of the other metropolises.

Which states does the Metropolis of Chicago cover?

The Metropolis covers Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and southeastern Missouri. The majority of its parishes are concentrated in the greater Chicago metropolitan area, with additional communities in the older industrialized cities of the Midwest and in suburban and rural areas across the region.

Where is the Metropolis of Chicago headquartered?

The Metropolitan offices are located in Lombard, Illinois. The cathedral church is the Annunciation Cathedral at 1017 North LaSalle Boulevard in Chicago, which serves as the episcopal seat of the Metropolitan.

When was the Metropolis of Chicago established?

Chicago was first identified as a hierarchal see in 1923 with the appointment of its first Greek Orthodox bishop. The area became the Second Archdiocese District in 1968, was reorganized as the Diocese of Chicago in 1979 following a decree of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and was elevated to the rank of metropolis in December 2002.

What is the Annunciation Cathedral and why is it historically significant?

The Annunciation Cathedral in Chicago was established in 1892 by Greek immigrants from Laconia and the Greek islands, making it the first Greek Orthodox church in Chicago and one of the earliest in the country. The current building, completed in 1910 and modeled after a cathedral in Athens, is the oldest surviving structure in Chicago constructed in the Byzantine style. Archbishop Athenagoras designated it the Cathedral of the Second Archdiocesan District in 1942.

Are there monasteries in the Metropolis of Chicago?

How do I find a Greek Orthodox parish in the Midwest?

Use the parish directory above to search by state, city, or town. Each listing includes the parish name, address, and a link to the individual parish page with historical background, service times, and contact information.