Nearly a Century on Rahway Avenue
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church has stood at 721 Rahway Avenue in Union, New Jersey since 1984, but its story begins nearly sixty years earlier. In 1928 a handful of Greek families originally from Chios and Mani, backed by the Pansamian Society, leased a second-story flat at 120 Bank Street and converted it into a house of worship and a Greek School. The Reverend Nicholas Papas was the first priest assigned to the fledgling community, and the parish he founded has remained a steady presence in northern New Jersey through the Great Depression, a wartime generation, an internal schism, and the great postwar migration of Greek American families from Newark into the surrounding suburbs.
The congregation weathered its early trials by leaning on a small group of trustees who personally assumed mortgages and steered the parish through the 1930s and 1940s. By the late 1960s St. Demetrios counted close to five hundred families and was regarded as one of the best-established Greek Orthodox communities in the state. When the social fabric of Newark shifted in the early 1970s, parish leaders began the long search for a new home. They settled on the present Union property in 1983 and consecrated the new church on October 29, 1989, with Metropolitan Silas of the Diocese of New Jersey presiding. A mortgage paid off in barely four years, a hand-crafted altar donated by the late Elias Fotinos, and the chapel named in his honor marked the beginning of a new era. Today the parish sits under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, within the Metropolis of New Jersey, and is shepherded by V. Rev. Archimandrite Evgenios Tsaramanidis.
Orthros and Divine Liturgy Every Sunday Morning
The rhythm of parish life centers on Sunday morning. Orthros followed by the Divine Liturgy begins at 9:00 AM each week, sung in the Byzantine tradition with readings drawn from the lectionary of the Greek Orthodox Church. The congregation follows the annual cycle of saints and feasts, with the parish bulletin noting the day's epistle and gospel readings. On major feast days such as the patronal feast of St. Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer on October 26, Orthros and Divine Liturgy are offered in the morning, with a Great Vesper Service the evening before. The parish also hosts archpastoral visits from Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey and, periodically, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, who celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church on August 25, 2024.
A Building That Grew With Its People
Since the Thyranoxia in October 1984, the Rahway Avenue building has been continually reshaped to meet the needs of a growing congregation. The Philoptochos Society of St. Irene donated an entirely new kitchen at the outset. The Social Hall was dedicated to the memory of Reverend Christopher Condoleon, who served as pastor for nearly three decades, and a stage area was added more recently. Upstairs the altar was extended, stained glass windows rescued from the old Newark church were reinstalled, and a conference room, pastor's office, choir loft, and additional classrooms were added. Outside, a retaining wall enlarged the parking area, storm sewers improved drainage, and the parking lot was repaved to support the annual Greek Festival. The Community Center, begun in 1994, brought new offices and introduced computers into parish administration.
Greek School: Ninety-Nine Years and Counting
Greek language instruction has been part of St. Demetrios since the day it opened, and the school recently welcomed students for its ninety-ninth year of continuous education. Classes meet under the direction of Principal Maria Michalarea and a committee chaired by Mata Agriantonis, with a teaching staff spanning kindergarten through sixth grade. A dedicated Greek School Library, directed by Valasia Mouhtidiotou Georgiou, supports the program, and a Parent-Teacher Organization led by President Stacey Zervoudist organizes community events ranging from an opening-day ice cream bar to the annual Vasilopita cutting and Holy Monday Easter traditions. The school hosts author visits and celebrations of Greek Letters Day, OXI Day, and Clean Monday, and a Greek School Graduation each spring sends another class forward with a working knowledge of the language of their grandparents.
Sunday School and the New Archdiocesan Curriculum
The Sunday School welcomes children of all ages, with classes grouped from Pre-K through twelfth grade. The program is now using a new curriculum from the Archdiocese, to which the parish's own Kyria Natalia Tzobanakis, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Teaching, has contributed. Stefanos Kotsakis serves as Director, George Theocharopoulos directs events and outreach, Despoina Lachanaris directs communication, and Irene Melachrinos serves as the parish liaison. Students gather for Sunday Liturgy with their families and then take part in lessons, with special observances throughout the year including a Christmas pageant, a Pentecost graduation, and the annual Vasilopita cutting.
G.O.Y.A., H.O.P.E., and J.O.Y.
Greek Orthodox Youth Association, better known as GOYA, is the teen ministry of the parish, serving junior and senior high school students. Led by Head Advisor and Athletic Director Evangelos Vrohidis, with Stephanie Nikitiadis directing events and fundraising, Emmie Spiropoulos directing communication, Maria Caldara managing finances, and Maria Barber overseeing youth safety, GOYA participates in regional athletic events such as the Sights and Sounds Show and Indoor Olympics, and takes service trips including visits to St. Michael's Home.
For younger children, H.O.Y. (Junior Orthodox Youth) welcomes third through sixth graders, while H.O.P.E. (Hellenic Orthodox Primary Education) serves pre-K through second grade. Both ministries aim to lay a foundation of Orthodox Christian fellowship through activities, service projects, and seasonal gatherings. The first meeting of the program year is held after Liturgy on the first Sunday of October, with registration handled by Effie Veintimilla, Vicki Ketikidis, and Christina Kontos.
Philoptochos: The Heart of Charitable Work
The Ladies Philoptochos Society of St. Irene has been active since the parish's earliest days and was officially reorganized in the mid-1950s. Its mission, to promote charitable, benevolent, and philanthropic outreach and to preserve the sanctity of life and family, has shaped the social and economic life of St. Demetrios for generations. The chapter meets on the first Sunday of every month under President Irene Papakostas and supports a wide range of parish life, from the donation of the church kitchen to holiday auctions, summer parties, Mother's Day celebrations, and contributions to the national Philoptochos network.
Project SAM and the Young Adult League
Project SAM, a Special Needs Orthodox Ministry, reflects the parish's commitment to welcoming every member of the body of Christ. On the first Saturday of every month the church hosts a Sensory-Friendly Divine Liturgy designed to embrace individuals with special needs and their families. The Young Adult League, for ages 18 to 35, gathers young adults for fellowship, witness, and service, meeting in faith to deepen their relationship with Christ through faith, fellowship, witness, and service. The YAL can be reached through the parish office email.
The Annual Greek Festival and Community Life
Every year since 1985, the parish has hosted a Greek Festival that draws visitors from across the region. The festival features Greek food and pastries, music, dance, and offerings from local Greek-owned restaurants including Manny's Texas Weiners, Manny's Diners, 12 Islands Greek Taverna, and Sunrise Diner. Beyond the festival, the parish marks the Greek Independence Day Parade in New York City, hosts an annual Vasilopita cutting, welcomes the Metropolitan for the feast of St. Demetrios, and gathers for clean Monday, Holy Week, and the Christmas pageant. Sunday bulletins, religious education newsletters, and multimedia galleries keep parishioners connected between visits.
Joining the Parish
St. Demetrios warmly invites every household to renew or begin its church membership each year. Membership forms are available at the parish office, and the building at 721 Rahway Avenue is staffed by Church Secretary Popi Zavolas during the week. Sunday School, Greek School, GOYA, and H.O.P.E. and J.O.Y. all maintain their own registration forms, and giving is available online through the parish's PayPal link. Those seeking pastoral guidance, a tour of the building, or simply a place to worship in the Byzantine tradition will find the doors open on Sunday mornings at nine.