Saint Nicholas Shrine Greek Orthodox Church of Flushing
Saint Nicholas Shrine Greek Orthodox Church of Flushing serves the Orthodox Christian community of Flushing, New York, offering regular worship services and preserving Greek Orthodox faith, traditions, and community life in the region.
Clergy:
Rev. Economos Aristidis Garinis, Presiding Priest; Rev. Presbyter Alexandros Douvres, Assistant Priest
Church Type:
Parish
Denomination:
Greek Orthodox
Metropolis:
Archdiocesan District
Affiliation:
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Ecumenical Patriarch:
Bartholomew I of Constantinople
Clergy Information updated Jan 2026
History
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church of Flushing, New York was founded in 1955, when Greek Orthodox families in the eastern Queens communities of Flushing, Whitestone, Bayside, and College Point recognized the need for a parish close to their homes. On September 18, 1955, the church officially opened its doors in a building purchased for $30,000 on Beech Avenue, becoming the 348th Greek Orthodox church in the Western Hemisphere. Over 1,500 persons attended the opening day. Volunteers painted the structure and made the necessary alterations, and on November 13, 1955, the naming of the church took place at the Flushing Armory, where Archbishop Michael celebrated a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Each parishioner was able to purchase a vote for their choice of name, and after several hours of enthusiastic bidding that narrowed the choice between Saint Nicholas and Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Nicholas prevailed.
The community grew with remarkable speed, and Saint Nicholas became the first church in the New York metropolitan area to sponsor a large-scale annual Greek Festival, a model that was subsequently adopted by Greek Orthodox churches throughout the Archdiocese. By 1971 the parish had grown to the point where a substantially larger church was needed, and a new building at 196-10 Northern Boulevard was officially opened by Archbishop Iakovos on March 28, 1971, seating 500 with wooden panels that slid open at the touch of a button to accommodate overflow worshippers during the major feasts.
The defining moment in the parish's history came on December 5, 1972, when Archbishop Iakovos received from the Roman Catholic Church in Bari, Italy, a portion of the relics of Saint Nicholas, including a fragment of the casket in which the saint's body had been transported to Bari, fragments of his skull, and a vial of the holy myrrh with which the saint is associated. The relics were enshrined at a special Vespers Service attended by Bishop Francis Mugavero of the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn as a representative of Pope Paul VI, and Archbishop Iakovos conferred upon the church its new name: the Greek Orthodox Shrine Church of Saint Nicholas. The enshrinement was described as one more sign of healing in the nine-hundred-year-old breach between Eastern and Western Christians, and it gave the Flushing church a place of unique distinction among Orthodox parishes in the Americas.
The church was formally consecrated on June 4, 1989, following a Phase II building program in which Italian artisans under the direction of Salvatore Bruno of Carrara, Italy, executed mosaics and marble work, some imported from the same quarry used by Michelangelo. A new altar, icon screen, baptistery, choir loft, and reliquary for the relics of Saint Nicholas were completed as part of the consecration program.
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church at 196-10 Northern Boulevard in Flushing serves the Orthodox Christian faithful of northeastern Queens and Nassau County as a parish of the Direct Archdiocesan District of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, one of the largest Greek Orthodox communities in the United States and the national Shrine Church of Saint Nicholas in America.
This page serves as a reference resource for Saint Nicholas Shrine Greek Orthodox Church of Flushing, providing essential information such as location, contact details, clergy, and church affiliation. It is intended to help visitors and members of the Orthodox Christian community easily find accurate parish information in one place.
How to Get To Saint Nicholas Shrine
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register as a member at a Greek Orthodox parish?
Parish membership is generally established by registering with the church office. Each parish may have its own process for enrollment and participation in parish life.
Can I attend services if I am not a registered member of the parish?
Greek Orthodox churches welcome visitors and non-members to attend services. Participation in sacraments may require coordination with the parish and priest.
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Pastoral requests are typically handled by the parish priest. The parish office can assist with contact details and help coordinate appointments or inquiries.
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Baptismal certificates are typically issued by the church where the baptism took place. To request a copy, contact the parish office directly and ask what information or identification is required.
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