A Century on Sheffield Avenue in Lincoln Park
St. George Greek Orthodox Church stands at 2701 North Sheffield Avenue in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, a parish that has occupied its original location for one hundred years. Founded by Greek immigrants and officially named on January 9, 1923, St. George has grown into one of the most active Greek Orthodox parishes in the Midwest, blending Byzantine worship, Greek-language education, youth programs, and broad community outreach. The parish currently celebrates its centennial and continues to serve as both a spiritual home and a cultural anchor for Greek Americans across Illinois.
The Founding and the Building
Like most of the earliest Greek Orthodox communities in Chicago, St. George was established by immigrants seeking a home away from home. In 1923, under the leadership of Reverend A. Mandilaris, local Greek leaders purchased an existing church building and adjoining lots for five thousand dollars. The building was adapted for Orthodox worship and held its first liturgy in April of that year.
Significant effort went into beautifying the interior. A hand-carved wooden iconostasion was acquired from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which had been located on Chicago's south side in Englewood, and the walls and screen were painted in traditional Byzantine style by the late master iconographer John Terzis. The result is considered among the finest examples of Byzantine iconography in the Midwest.
The founding priest, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Daniel Golemis, was a graduate of the School of Theology of the University of Athens and a lawyer. He was a vigorous promoter of both the Orthodox faith and the Greek language, and he founded the parish's Greek School at the same time as the church itself - a pairing that remains a defining feature of the parish a century later. The parish frames its mission today around what it calls three timeless commitments: love of country, love of family, and love of God.
The Clergy
The parish is led by Rev. Father Chrysanthos Kerkeres, who has served as presiding priest since February 1, 2014. In addition to his duties at St. George, Fr. Chrysanthos serves as the Administrative Proistamenos of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, is the spiritual advisor to the DePaul University chapter of Orthodox Christian Fellowship, the Hellenic American Veterans of the Metropolis of Chicago, and the Hellenic American Police Association, and serves as a chaplain for the Chicago and Park Ridge Police Departments. He sits on the Metropolis of Chicago Spiritual Court, is President of the Orthodox Christian Clergy Association of Greater Chicago, and serves on the Metropolis Council and Greek Education Committee, the board of the Metropolis outreach ministry Project Hope, and the board of trustees of Hellenic College and Holy Cross in Brookline, Massachusetts. He and Presvytera Vasiliki, an employment attorney, live in Park Ridge and have a son named Theodoros.
In July 2025 the parish welcomed Rev. Fr. Joseph-Hector Abouid as its new associate priest, an appointment made by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago. Born in New Jersey and raised in Honduras, Fr. Joseph holds both a Bachelor of Theology and a Master of Theology, the latter earned cum laude, from the University of Balamand in Lebanon. His pastoral career has taken him from Honduras to Chicago, El Paso, and Coral Gables, Florida. He and Presvytera Carol have settled in Justice, Illinois, with their three children.
Worship and the Sacraments
Sunday is the heart of parish life at St. George. The community gathers for the Divine Liturgy, which is livestreamed on the parish Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person. The parish also maintains the full sacramental life of the Greek Orthodox Church. Baptisms are performed by triple immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in accordance with Holy Tradition, and are conferred only once. Parents interested in baptizing a child or adults preparing for entry into the Church contact the parish office to begin the process.
The Forty Day Blessing, rooted in the Gospel account of Mary's purification and the Presentation of Christ at the Temple, is observed exactly on the fortieth day after a child's birth or on the preceding Sunday. Both parents and the newborn are present, godparents are welcome, and the priest formally carries the infant into the sanctuary for the first time.
Weddings, funerals, and memorial services round out the sacramental rhythm. Memorial prayers are customarily offered on Sunday mornings at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, and the priest also travels to cemeteries at significant moments of the year to pray for the departed.
Greek School: An Education in Faith and Language
The Greek School is treated by the parish as equal in importance to the teaching ministry of the Orthodox faith. It meets every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, beginning each September with an Agiasmo service led by Fr. Chrysanthos and Fr. Joseph. Under the direction of principal Jinie Papaioannou, the school serves students from PreK through twelfth grade.
Tuition for the 2026 to 2027 academic year is set at $1,400 for PreK through sixth grade and $1,200 for seventh through twelfth grade, with a one-hundred-dollar discount for families who register early. The teachers are Myrta Papaioannou, Ekaterini Vranas, Efthimia Gziki, Magdalini Kelesidi, Efstathia Tsartsali, Joanna Papadakis, and Evangelia J. Pliakos. In addition to the regular curriculum, the school hosts the annual Hellenic Letters Theatrical Play and Reception, its principal fundraiser, and welcomes visiting dignitaries; in March the school received His Excellency Antonis Alexandridis, Ambassador of Greece to the United States, who viewed a preview of the students' upcoming program.
Sunday School and the Paraklitos Bereavement Ministry
Sunday School meets each Sunday immediately after Holy Communion, with registration for the new ecclesiastical year opening in mid-August and the first day of classes following in mid-September. The annual calendar includes a Christmas Pageant in December, a Holy Friday Retreat for children ages four through eighth grade, and a closing celebration each May. Registration and information are handled through sundayschool@stgeorgechicago.net.
A more recent addition is the Paraklitos Bereavement Ministry, an outreach of comfort and healing for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Under the pastoral guidance of both priests, the ministry gathers periodically at St. George following Divine Liturgy to share, to listen, and to pray together within the embrace of the Church.
Children, Youth, and Young Adults
The parish runs a constellation of programs that anchor multiple generations to parish life. HOPE and JOY, a fellowship and faith program for children ages three through eleven, gathers on alternate Saturdays from 12:30 to 1:30 PM following Greek School, alternating with Bitty Basketball for PreK through fourth graders. The Anemos Hellenic Folklore Society offers Greek dance workshops for youth and adults on the second Friday of each month, led by director Vasiliki Kouchoukos Grosso. Boys seven years and older may serve as altar boys, assisting the priest in the sanctuary during divine services.
Older youth find a home in GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth Association) and STAG (a companion young-adult group), which host activities such as lock-ins, summer barbecues, and Junior Olympics competitions. Bitty Basketball and HOPE and JOY share an end-of-year party in the Community Center.
College students from DePaul are formally welcomed through the OCF DePaul Chapter, for which St. George serves as the home parish. Periodic meetings include dinner and discussion led by Fr. Joseph and Fr. Chrysanthos. Orthodox Connection is a fellowship for adults ages thirty to forty-five that gathers for evenings of food, games, cash raffles, and charity. The parish also nurtures a YAL (Young Adult League) ministry and a Young Stewards program for parishioners taking on greater roles in parish life.
Men's Ministry, Women's Philanthropy, and Cultural Life
Men's Ministry, nicknamed The Trophy Bearers, gathers men of all ages for fellowship, faith, and honest conversation. Periodic evenings include worship, discussion, and games such as Tavli. Topics have included reflections on the Dormition Fast led by Fr. Joseph.
The Ladies Educational Society, often called Ladies Ed, organizes a busy calendar of cultural and fundraising events. Members sell loukoumades after Divine Liturgy on select Sundays, host the annual Family Autumn Brunch in the Community Center, and administer scholarship funds for students. The Philoptochos Society, the Greek Orthodox women's philanthropic organization, hosts an annual fundraiser - most recently Flower to the People - and supports the Second Chance Employment and Resource Fair in partnership with Metropolis of Chicago Project Hope and Cabrini Green Legal Aid. Philoptochos also sponsors an annual Walk-a-thon that traces a 2.5-mile route from St. George to Annunciation Cathedral.
Outreach Beyond the Parish
St. George's outreach ministry looks outward in several directions. On the second Thursday of every month, volunteers prepare and serve a hot meal - Hot Meals to Go - on the sidewalk in front of the church, open to anyone in need in the neighborhood. On the third Thursday of each month, Outreach and Philoptochos volunteers visit the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre to serve Greek coffee to residents. The parish has also partnered with the Hellenic American Police Association and Metropolis of Chicago Project Hope to host employment fairs for individuals reentering the workforce after incarceration.
The Lincoln Park Greek Fest and Parish Traditions
The Lincoln Park Greek Fest is the parish's signature public event, drawing visitors from across the city for Hellenic food, music, and dance. Parishioner volunteer meetings in the weeks before the fest are well attended, and a Volunteer Appreciation BBQ follows the festival each summer.
The parish also keeps several smaller traditions alive. The Blessing of the Animals is held each fall, with snacks for both humans and pets. The Blessing of Cars, Motorcycles, and Bicycles follows Sunday Liturgy in late spring, and the Blessing of the Backpacks is offered to students at the start of the school year. Family Nights, held periodically in the Community Center, combine games, music, a short lesson, and food. The Men's Ministry periodically gathers for a football watch party at a local tavern. The Anemos Dance Troupe keeps Hellenic traditions visible through performance and instruction.
Podcasts, News, and Parish Communications
For those who cannot attend in person, sermons are available on the Elevated Orthodoxy podcast, distributed through Apple Podcasts and other platforms and approaching tens of thousands of downloads. A weekly newsletter, sent by email, keeps parishioners informed of upcoming events. Past newsletters are archived online. News items posted on the parish's communications channels include announcements of scholarships, parish council vacancies, Vacation Church School, and youth celebrations.
Becoming Part of the Parish
Those interested in becoming Orthodox, refreshing their knowledge of the faith, or simply learning more can attend the Introduction to Orthodoxy course, which meets twice monthly on Monday evenings at the church and offers a Zoom option for remote participants. Sessions are led by Fr. Chrysanthos and cover the catechumenate path for those preparing to be received into the Church. Sunday School, Greek School, and the various youth and outreach ministries all welcome new participants. Those who wish to support the parish financially can do so online through the parish's giving portal.