ABOUT US

The Greek Orthodox Community of Albany was founded in 1922 when a committee of twelve Greek Orthodox immigrants met and decided to establish a Greek Orthodox Church in Albany. The Unitarian Church at 8 Lancaster St. in downtown Albany was purchased in January 1923 and was renamed the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church. They had three objectives: (1) to acquire a church building; (2) to establish a Greek-School for their children; and (3) to purchase burial grounds for the Greek Americans in Albany. After various repairs and redecorations, the Church was opened for worship on August 15, 1923. in 1964, the Parish began planning for the construction of a new Church and Parish Center on Whitehall Rd. During the interim period of construction, the facilities of the Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints were used by the St. Sophia communicants. In November 1967, the new Parish Center was completed and served temporarily as a Church. On April 17, 1969 Archbishop Iakovos consecrated the new St. Sophia Church. 

MISSION STATEMENT

St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, Inc. is a not-for-profit religious community under the leadership of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, through the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople whose mission is to:

(1) maintain, practice, and proclaim the Christian Orthodox faith, enhancing the spiritual growth of its communicants;

(2) develop and operate programs, activities, and services for the Parishioners which serve and further the religious educational, cultural, philanthropic, and social ministries of the community as well as to protect and continuously develop the physical buildings and religious property as deemed necessary;

(3) dedicate the promotion of Christian fellowship and values between the evolving diversity of cultures
and its people.

CLERGY & STAFF

Rev. Father Patric Legato | Proistamenos

Fr. Dennis L. Nagi, Ph.D | Retired Clergy

George Lenares | Chanter

Evangelos Anton | Neokoros

James Diamantopoulos | Acolytes

Harry Ermides | Choir Director

Margaret Danes | Church Secretary

Alfredo Ramos | Plant Manager

Chris Pappis | Webmaster

PARISH COUNCIL

Michael Christakis | President
Sultana Varvarousis | Vice President
Christine Harvey | Recording Secretary
Anastasia Vasilakos | Financial Secretary

George Pappis | Treasurer

Lainie Damaskos-Christou
John Googas

Robert Hahn

Peter Pappas

Maria Pidgeon

Mark Stevens

Maria Vasilakos