Events

Our Cathedral’s History: The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral is a true spiritual center of almost seven hundred families, people from all lifestyles, and all sharing in one thing, the one true light of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

John Gretes, who is acknowledged as Norfolk’s first Greek immigrant, settled here in 1898. Shortly thereafter, George Christopoulos and his wife Paraskevi arrived. The names of Christopoulos and Gretes appear frequently as the founding fathers of the Greek Orthodox community, here, in Norfolk Virginia.

It was not until, March 3, 1911, Sunday of Orthodoxy, (see Greek Orthodox Holy Days) when the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the newly appointed, Rev. Fr. George Smyrnakis, our community’s first Holy Father. At that time services moved to Christ and St Luke’s Church which stood at Freemason and Cumberland Streets, serving celebration to our 25 member congregation.

In 1919, following an intensive fundraising drive, the church at Freemason and Cumberland Streets was purchased. While the church on Freemason Street served us well, the ever-growing Greek Orthodox population facilitated the need for a larger complex, in 1943, a new church building fund drive was initiated. The General Assembly in 1947 authorized the purchase of a parcel of land located at Granby and Fife Streets, our present location. A comer-stone was laid in 1954, and on March 27, 1955, the first services were held in our new and beautiful Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Cathedral Tours Schedule

Chapel Presentations Schedule

Festival Map