PARISH HISTORY

  In the early 1960's, communicants of the Greek Orthodox faith came to the Norristown area as immigrants from Greece and settled here. They banded together to form the Hellenic Civic Association along with a Ladies Auxiliary, thereby setting common goals and aspirations, the chief of which was to maintain and to project their precious spiritual and cultural values as Americans.

By early 1970, liturgies were conducted regularly on a monthly basis in the lower level of the Commonwealth Bank on West Main Street in Norristown. When the opportunity presented itself, the Hellenic Civic Association purchased a facility located at 142-44 West Main Street which became the headquarters of the community. The property included five apartments which were rented and two large spacious stores, one of which was converted into a multi-purpose chamber. On the far side of this room an Iconostasion was installed (provided by the Cathedral of St. George in Philadelphia) behind which an altar was positioned. For the following seven years or so the concept of developing a parish was born. Then in 1981 with full approval of the Archdiocese and after the purchase of the one-time Pentecostal Church on Center Avenue (in West Norriton) the Hellenic Civic Association became officially the St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Parish. The parish was consecrated in honor of this Roman Saint of the second century including her three martyred daughters, SS. Faith, Hope and Agape. The Ladies Auxiliary then become the Philoptohos of St. Sophia's, taking the name of Faith, Hope and Agape. Since then this new parish grew and expanded steadily.

By the mid-80's many priests had come and gone, serving the various needs of the community as the need existed. The first was Fr. Demetrios Katerlis back in the 60's then followed by Frs. John Dagios, Nicholas Elias, James Mamalis, Iakovos Klimis, Andrew Missiras, and others who came as substitutes. The first full time pastor to be named was Fr. Constantine Andrews who served for four years (1980-1984). He was followed by Fr. Spyridon Kehayes who remained until 1989. Fr. John A. Limberakis came in July of 1990.

With the arrival of the new pastor and the ensuing surge of new interest, the parish began looking for a permanent site, one that would be larger and more appropriate for the future growth and development of St. Sophia's. After a careful search it located one on South Trooper Road (Route 363) at the corner of Stinson Lane in Jeffersonville. The area is known as the gateway to Valley Forge. The site measures about eight acres. It was purchased on July 1, 1991.

On October 10, 1993 ground was broken on this site for the erection of a Cultural Center. Through the energetic efforts of our congregation and our priest, Father John, the community was able to complete the 16,000 sq. ft. multipurpose facility in the fall of 1995. It now serves as our house of worship until a church proper can be built next to it.

On July 9, 2000 Fr. James Pavlow became our new priest, on the retirement of Fr. John. We welcomed him warmly. With God's blessings and with Fr. James' help we began preparation for our church proper. In July of 2005 Fr. James Pavlow moved onto another parish within the diocese in Virginia and was replaced by Fr. Basil Kissal who is now our pastor and will lead us in our efforts to build a church proper.

We have recently paid off our mortgage on our cultural center and this time we can start the process of building the church proper. We welcome all to participate in our Stewardship program and the Mortgage Reduction program at St. Sophia's so that this may be accomplished.

We pay homage to those who came before us, and laid the foundation that brought us to this day in the life of our beloved parish. Now we look forward to the future, strong in our faith, and with hope and love in our hearts, to accomplish that which we must, for the generations that follow us.