A Byzantine Temple on Bedford Street
The Church of the Archangels stands at 1527 Bedford Street in Stamford, Connecticut, a parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America under the spiritual shepherding of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the broader jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Its red-brick Byzantine temple, modeled on an eleventh-century prototype, was the first church consecrated by Archbishop Iakovos after his appointment to America in 1959, and it remains one of the most recognizable houses of Orthodox worship in Fairfield County.
The parish's mission statement is simple: "The Church of the Archangels is an Orthodox Christian community that welcomes everyone. We experience the love of Jesus Christ and we proclaim and celebrate the Good News of salvation for all God's people through prayer, worship, fellowship, education, compassion, service, and outreach." That welcome is put into practice each Sunday at Orthros and Divine Liturgy, with the services livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person.
From Elm Street to a New Temple: Nearly a Century of Parish Life
Archangels is the daughter parish of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. In the late 1920s, a group of families decided to form a new congregation and raised money to purchase St. Mary's Catholic church at 434 Elm Street in August 1928. They named the new community after the Archangels (Taxiarhai) and, despite the economic hardships of the Depression, paid off their mortgage by 1937. Several priests served the community during the parish's first thirty-five years, and there was even an attempt between 1951 and 1956 to reunite Archangels with Annunciation, but it did not succeed.
A turning point came in 1956 with the assignment of the Rev. Protopresbyter Father George Poulos. He persuaded the parish to build a new facility rather than repair the older structure, and a General Assembly on December 16, 1956, unanimously approved the plan. A Building Fund drive began on January 8, 1957, with an initial goal of $300,000 and was completed by the end of February with major gifts from shipping-company benefactors who also supervised construction. Groundbreaking was held on November 25, 1957; the cornerstone was laid on June 25, 1958; and the completed temple was consecrated in November 1959 by Archbishop Iakovos in his first consecration as Archbishop of America. The Archbishop was so impressed by what he saw that he asked Fr. George for the name of the architect and a copy of the drawings so that a similar chapel could be built at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts - which is why the seminary chapel still resembles the Stamford temple today.
Fr. George's fifty-three-year tenure, the longest single parish tenure in the history of the Archdiocese, saw the development of the choir, Sunday School, Greek School, youth ministry, a seniors program, and the broadcast of services on television. He was also a founding figure behind Ionian Village, the summer youth program in Greece that has welcomed more than 18,000 young Greek American campers over the decades. In 1976 the parish added the Greek Cultural Center with a full gymnasium, Olympic-sized pool, and banquet hall; the building was transformed in 1995 into the Stamford Athletic Club, which served the wider community until 2019. Fr. George continued as Pastor Emeritus until his death in February 2022 at the age of 100. His successor, Fr. Harry Pappas, served from 2009 to 2025, and on August 1, 2025, Archbishop Elpidophoros appointed Rev. Fr. R. Joseph Collins as the new Presiding Priest.
Sunday Worship and the Round of Services
On Sundays, Orthros is prayed at 8:45 a.m. and the Divine Liturgy follows at 10:00 a.m., with Coffee Hour beginning around 11:45 a.m. During the summer months of June through August, the schedule shifts earlier: Orthros at 8:15 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m., with Coffee Hour at 11:00 a.m. On the first Saturday of every month the parish gathers for Family Vespers at 5:00 p.m., often followed by an optional dinner at a local restaurant. Weekday Feast Days follow the rhythm of Orthros at 8:30 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m.
Services are prayed in English, in keeping with the practice of Greek Orthodox parishes throughout the Archdiocese, and the liturgical music is led by the choir under the direction of Nadine Vasil, with Dr. Thomas C. Moulketis at the organ. Chanters, altar servers, ushers, and the prosphora bakers all serve in the sanctuary. The parish also makes services available beyond the temple through live broadcasts on the parish YouTube channel and through a downloadable Typika service for use at home on Sundays when the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated or when travel prevents attendance.
Fr. Joseph Collins and the Pastoral Team
Fr. R. Joseph Collins grew up in Mauston, Wisconsin, and was received into the Orthodox Church together with his wife, Presvytera Melanie, while he was a student at Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (with minors in Greek classics and Russian literature) and a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross and was ordained to the diaconate in 2015 and to the priesthood in 2016. He and Presvytera Melanie served Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, New York, and then Kimisis tis Theotokou in Poughkeepsie, before spending more than five years at the parish of the Holy Twelve Apostles in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They arrived in Stamford in August 2025 with their son J.D., and are now caring for the parish alongside Dina Karakatsanis (Office Manager), Elizabeth Stanton (Preschool Director), Milton Vargas (Custodian), and a full team of ministry leaders and volunteers.
Fr. Joseph teaches the Adult Catechism and oversees Baptism and Pre-Marital Preparation. Adult Bible Study is led by Fr. Harry Pappas (Priest Emeritus) and Effective Christian Ministry classes are coordinated by Anastasia Valassis. Adult Greek-language classes meet under Eugenia Zavras, and adult Greek dance is taught by Vassilios Liatsos.
Church School, HOPE & JOY, and GOYA
Christian education is at the heart of the parish. Church School meets on Sundays immediately after Holy Communion for children from age three through high school, running from September through May. Dr. Evelyn Bilias Lolis directs the program with a full team of grade-level teachers: George Paparis and Natalie Kulukundis for grades 8 through 12; Stacy Valassis for grades 5 through 7; Janie and Annie Konidaris for grades 2 through 4; Lexi Damascus Nedeltchev for kindergarten and grade 1; and Soulafreda Hantes and Hellen Horiatis for preschool. The school also prepares students for the annual Oratorical Festival and coordinates Philanthropy Projects through the year.
HOPE & JOY serves children from preschool through sixth grade with events that have included a visit to the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, a service trip to the Lower Fairfield County Food Bank, and pool parties with games and crafts. Parents can contact Chris and Luisa Nanos to get involved. The Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA), for grades 6 through 12, is led by Chris and Luisa Nanos and meets for activities that take the form of Bible studies, discussion groups, video or audio reflections, skits, and outreach. Throughout the year the teens raise funds for outings, sports tournaments, a Lenten Retreat, and dances hosted by neighboring parishes, and they participate in conferences with GOYA chapters from across the district. A Young Adult ministry is also active, with Shareef Twal as coordinator, and Little Angels provides programming for the youngest children under Danielle Vanech-Flores.
The Ladies Philoptochos and the Call to Service
The Ladies Philoptochos, the women's philanthropic society of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, is led locally by Denise Aivalis and can be reached at Philoptochos@archangelsgoc.org. Its work in Stamford follows the Society's mission of helping the poor, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, and the victims of disasters, and of preserving Orthodox Christian family life through education, fellowship, and service. Penny Nanos serves as the Parish Council liaison to Philoptochos.
The parish's wider charitable reach is shaped by the Stewardship committee, led by Tim Hartch and Steven Valassis, and by a Mission and Philanthropy focus on the Parish Council represented by John Pasvankias. Together with the Ladies Philoptochos, the community also responds to international disasters; an archived Ukrainian Disaster Supplies List remains posted on the parish's Resources page as a reminder of the parish's tradition of practical aid.
Greek School, Preschool, and the Greek Cultural Center
The Archangels Greek School, directed by Georgia Vouthounis, offers classes for children from pre-K through middle school every Wednesday beginning in mid-September. Beyond Greek language, students are introduced to Hellenic history, culture, customs and traditions, the Orthodox faith, and Greek dance. The school year is supported by a Greek School Committee and a Greek School PTO.
The Archangels Preschool runs during the weekdays under the direction of Elizabeth Stanton and shares in the parish's broader ministry to young families. Athletic programming for the youth is coordinated by John Skoparantzos. Sparrow Oaks Orthodox Summer Day Camp, hosted on the campus and operated through an outside partner, gives children a week of Orthodox-centered summer programming; registration is handled through the camp network portal. The festival, which the parish has hosted in past years at the Greek Cultural Center, remains a regular part of community life.
Parish Council, Stewardship, and the Wider Orthodox Life
Parish Council members are elected by the general membership to oversee the ministries of the church for the good of the community. As of August 2025 the council includes Fr. Joseph Collins, President Elias Lolis (term expires 2027), Vice President Chris Paul Nanos (2025, GOYA liaison), Treasurer Tim Hartch (2025), Secretary Georgia Vouthounis (2027), Assistant Treasurer Peter Diamond (2027, Youth Athletics), John Pasvankias (2027, Missions and Philanthropy), Aggie Sotire (2025, Seniors), Mary Janocha (2025, Fundraisers), Margaret Fornaciari (2026, Fundraisers), Steven Valassis (2026, Stewardship), Penny Nanos (2026, Philoptochos), Jameela Androulidakis (2027, Adult Education), and Damon Diamantes (2027, Young Adults). Standing committees under the Council include Buildings and Grounds, Capital Campaign, Master Planning, Public Relations, Stewardship, and Finance.
The Stewardship page describes Christian stewardship as "a new way of life centered on Jesus Christ and the Gospel," and walks through the Biblical principles of giving back the first and best portion of time, talent, and treasure. Donations can be made through the parish's online giving portal and through stewardship pledges. A 2026 Pledge Card and weekly tray donations are accepted online, and the option to light a candle is available through the parish's online forms.
The parish is part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan District served by the Archdiocesan Chancellor, Fr. Elias, and participates in district-wide ministries including Camp Saint Paul, the FAITH Scholarship for Academic Excellence, and the Effective Christian Ministry Cohort. AHEPA is active locally under chapter president Michael Kourounis. The Church of the Archangels Foundation, established by Fr. George Poulos in 1997 to provide for the long-term stability of the parish, continues to support the church's mission under a board led by Jason Konidaris.
Getting Connected
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (closed on weekends). The parish office phone is (203) 595-5902, and the Presiding Priest's line is (203) 595-5903; after-hours calls roll into the priest's voicemail and are forwarded to his email. Office email is office@archangelsgoc.org. Online visitors can subscribe to the parish YouTube channel for livestreamed services, follow the church on Facebook and Instagram, and consult the parish calendar for the full schedule of services, feast days, and special events. Newcomers and inquirers are welcome to use the contact form to request a meeting with a priest, schedule a baptism, wedding, 40-day blessing, or Trisagion, ask about becoming a parishioner, or volunteer in any of the parish's ministries.