Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Oakland
Encyclopedia
The Greek Orthodox
Christian community of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension in Oakland, California
, is located at 4700 Lincoln Avenue, next door to Oakland's Mormon Temple
. The original community, formed in 1917, worshiped in a rented hall until it built the first Greek Orthodox church in the East Bay
. The Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (in Greek, Koimoissis tis Thetokou), opened its doors on May 21, 1921, on Brush Street in Downtown Oakland. By 1960, the community, having outgrown its facilities, relocated to the present site in the Oakland hills and was re-dedicated to the Analypsis (the Ascension of Our Savior), on December 11, 1960.
The church was elevated to the status of a cathedral
in February 1992. The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension has evolved from a predominantly immigrant society into one that now spans six generations, with over 1,200 parishioners, making it the largest Greek Orthodox community in the San Francisco Metropolis. It entered the new millennium as a vibrant and diversified community. The cathedral has a distinctive collection of Orthodox iconography. The icon of Jesus the Pantocrator (or Almighty) is the largest Orthodox icon of Jesus in the Americas. Reverend Father Thomas J. Paris has served as Ascension's pastor since 1971. A new chapel, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, is currently being constructed on the church grounds. Two Divine Liturgies are celebrated each Sunday.
The Cathedral hosts an annual Greek food and culture festival, traditionally held the weekend after Mother's Day, on the church grounds. The largest festival of its kind in the United States, the Oakland Greek Festival offers a wide variety of Greek foods, cultural exhibitions, Greek dancing, and live music.
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
Christian community of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, is located at 4700 Lincoln Avenue, next door to Oakland's Mormon Temple
Oakland California Temple
The Oakland California Temple is the 15th constructed and 13th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS temple in Oakland, California was announced on May 26, 1962, and dedicated on November 19, 1964 by David O...
. The original community, formed in 1917, worshiped in a rented hall until it built the first Greek Orthodox church in the East Bay
East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
The East Bay is a commonly used, informal term for the lands on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay, in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, United States...
. The Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (in Greek, Koimoissis tis Thetokou), opened its doors on May 21, 1921, on Brush Street in Downtown Oakland. By 1960, the community, having outgrown its facilities, relocated to the present site in the Oakland hills and was re-dedicated to the Analypsis (the Ascension of Our Savior), on December 11, 1960.
The church was elevated to the status of a cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in February 1992. The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension has evolved from a predominantly immigrant society into one that now spans six generations, with over 1,200 parishioners, making it the largest Greek Orthodox community in the San Francisco Metropolis. It entered the new millennium as a vibrant and diversified community. The cathedral has a distinctive collection of Orthodox iconography. The icon of Jesus the Pantocrator (or Almighty) is the largest Orthodox icon of Jesus in the Americas. Reverend Father Thomas J. Paris has served as Ascension's pastor since 1971. A new chapel, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, is currently being constructed on the church grounds. Two Divine Liturgies are celebrated each Sunday.
The Cathedral hosts an annual Greek food and culture festival, traditionally held the weekend after Mother's Day, on the church grounds. The largest festival of its kind in the United States, the Oakland Greek Festival offers a wide variety of Greek foods, cultural exhibitions, Greek dancing, and live music.
External links
- Ascension website
- Ascension Historical Committee
- Oakland Greek Festival
- Kivotos Modern Greek Language school at the Ascension
- Cathedrals of California