Hellenic Heritage Foundation unveils historic plaque dedicated to Toronto’s Greek community

In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution this year, the Hellenic Heritage Foundation of Toronto unveiled a plaque dedicated to the community’s more than 100-year-old history in front of its most important building.

In 1912, Greek immigrants to Ontario raised funds for the community to purchase the building, which would later serve as the first Greek Orthodox church, Greek school, and community center.

“We at the Hellenic Heritage Foundation felt it was important to honor this part of our heritage and therefore successfully requested that a historic plaque be erected there through Heritage Toronto,” said HHF chief executive George Keroglidis told the Pappas Post.

The foundation unveiled the historic plaque at 170 Jarvis Street on October 30. Participants at the event included Toronto Mayor John Tory and other dignitaries and special guests such as Victor Maligoudis, Consul General of Greece; Effie Triantafilopoulos, Member of the Provincial Parliament; Nick Mantas, city councilor; Andonis Artemakis, president of the Greek community of Toronto and many others.

The newly unveiled historic plaque at 170 Jarvis Street includes the following text:

ANCIENT GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY

Between 1912 and 1938, this building housed Toronto’s first Greek Orthodox Church and a Greek language school. It was also one of the first centers of Greek identity and community.

At the turn of the 20th century, Greek immigrants settled in Toronto in search of economic and political prosperity. In 50 years, a strong Greek community of about 3,000 people began to take shape in the area bounded by Yonge, Carlton and Church streets, as well as Dundas Street East.

In 1909, approximately 200 Greek immigrants from Toronto formed the St. George’s Greek Orthodox community in Ontario. The organization purchased this building in 1912 with a down payment collected from Greeks across Ontario.

The first floor has been transformed into a church. In 1921, the upper level of the building housed a day school called Athena, which taught English and Greek. It eventually became an afternoon language school for over 100 students. The building was a place where the Greeks worshiped, socialized, married and learned in their language.

In 1938, the church moved to a converted synagogue on Bond Street, where it remains active for more than 100 years after its establishment.

Is the Pappas Post worth $ 5 a month for all the content you read? Every month, we publish dozens of articles that educate, inform, entertain, inspire and enrich the thousands of people who read The Pappas Post. I ask those who frequent the site to participate and help keep the quality of our content high and free. Click here and start your monthly or annual support today. If you choose to pay (a) $ 5 / month or more Where (b) $ 50 / year or more then you can browse our site without any advertising!

Click here if you would like to subscribe to the weekly update of The Pappas Post

Is the Pappas Post worth $ 5 a month for all the content you read? Every month, we publish dozens of articles that educate, inform, entertain, inspire and enrich the thousands of people who read The Pappas Post. I ask those who frequent the site to participate and help keep the quality of our content high and free. Click here and start your monthly or annual support today. If you choose to pay (a) $ 5 / month or more Where (b) $ 50 / year or more then you can browse our site without any advertising!

Click here if you would like to subscribe to the weekly update of The Pappas Post