History

Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Merrick, New York traces its origins to a December 1959 gathering of Greek Orthodox families on Long Island's South Shore. Under the guidance of James Boulukos, a group that included Gus Healy, James Plarikos, Peter Kakouros, Nick George, George Kouimanis, Steve Kalathakis, John Louros, Mike Kayantas, Constantine Kazis, Vassilios Pragias, and others came together to discuss establishing a parish for the growing Greek Orthodox population in the area. The South Nassau Hellenic Community was formally organized in May 1960 to raise funds and bring the vision to life.

In May 1961 the community purchased a building in Freeport, a former Jewish synagogue that was converted into the parish's first church, and Peter Kakouros became the first elected president. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on July 1, 1962. Through the early years the parish grew steadily under a succession of dedicated priests, and by 1968 membership had reached approximately 140 families. Church School enrollment expanded dramatically, and the parish's youth programs, Greek School, Philoptochos, and other organizations took root and flourished. The first Greek Festival was held in 1977, inaugurating what would become a beloved annual tradition of fellowship and fundraising.

With the community continuing to expand, the General Assembly voted to acquire land in Merrick and build a new church. Three lots with houses were purchased for $200,000, paid in full at acquisition. Architect Demetrios Siderakis designed the new building in the traditional Byzantine cross-in-square style with a dome. Groundbreaking was held on June 28, 1981, with $62,000 donated by the faithful in attendance. Construction began in April 1982 under general contractor J.K. Bono, and the congregation entered the new church on Palm Sunday, April 15, 1984, for its first Divine Liturgy in the new sanctuary. Archbishop Iakovos blessed the church at the traditional Thyranixia, or Opening of the Doors, service, praising the determination of the small group of families who had accomplished what he called an amazing feat.

The parish's founders came primarily from Sparta and Chios, though over the years the community expanded to include families from Cyprus, Thessaloniki, Asia Minor, the Ionian Islands, Crete, and many other regions of Greece. An extensive iconography project led by iconographer George Filippakis adorned the interior of the church with Byzantine sacred imagery, with the Pantokrator in the dome blessed by Archbishop Demetrios in 2002, and more than half a million dollars donated by parishioners toward its completion. On October 25, 2009, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited Saint Demetrios as part of a North American tour focused on environmental stewardship, a historic moment the parish remembers as among the most significant in its history.

Today, Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church serves more than 400 families at 24 Kenney Avenue in Merrick as a parish of the Direct Archdiocesan District of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, its distinctive dome visible from miles away on the highest point in Merrick, a beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenic heritage on Long Island for more than six decades.