History

The Community of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church was born in a restaurant. In April 1982, a small group gathered at a Steak and Shake in New Port Richey to explore the possibility of a Greek Orthodox church in Pasco County, followed by a second meeting in May at the Oasis restaurant. These transplanted Greeks, many of them retirees who had come to Florida from the Northeast and Midwest, shared a longing for the community life they had left behind and a determination to build something permanent in their new home.

Guided by Father Constantine Volaitis, the group researched phone directories for Greek-sounding names, reached out through friends and associates, and assembled a mailing list. A social gathering at the Jasmine Heights Civic Club in June 1982 confirmed that about 80 persons supported the idea. Permission for mission status was tentatively granted by Bishop John of Atlanta that same month. On November 3, 1982, the first General Assembly was held at First Federal Savings and Loan in Holiday, where Bishop John conferred official Archdiocesan approval and appointed Father Volaitis interim Pastor and Spiritual Advisor. The first religious service was held on November 14, 1982, at the Gulf Harbor Civic Center, attended by 235 people, followed by a celebration luncheon that doubled as the community's first fundraising event.

Through the months that followed the young community worshipped in rented spaces including the former Faupel Chapel, then a vacant restaurant offered by a generous family at no charge, and eventually the Lakes in Regency Civic Association clubhouse. Meanwhile the work of building a parish accelerated. A Vasilopeta dinner dance in January 1983 raised $9,000 in seed money. On April 23, 1983, a church-naming dinner drew 368 tickets and placed over 35 saints' names in nomination; Saint George prevailed by 24,000-plus votes, with Mrs. Maria Tsalichis making the largest contribution, and the event raised $34,600 for the building fund. In September 1983 the community purchased 22 acres of prime land on what is now Little Road in Port Richey for $247,000, selling off parcels to reduce the effective cost significantly. A Building Fund Drive in early 1984 raised $309,000 in pledges. Groundbreaking took place on April 29, 1984, with Bishop John presiding. Construction was awarded to Tagarelli Brothers Construction of Tarpon Springs for $452,587. The Community Center was completed in November 1985, and the first church service in the new facility was held on November 24, 1985.

Phase Two, the construction of the permanent church building, was completed in the mid-1990s with its Thyranoixia held on November 15, 1997. The church was formally consecrated on November 5-6, 2010. A celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Saint George was held in May 2014, coinciding with the Enshrinement of the Relics of Saint George within the church.

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church at 9426 Little Road in New Port Richey serves the Orthodox Christian faithful of Pasco and Hernando counties as a parish of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, a community that fulfills its own description of itself: built on faith and vision, from a restaurant meeting to a consecrated church on 22 acres.