St. Gregorios Orthodox Church of India, South Florida, started as a small congregation in August 2000. With the approval of H.G. Mathews Mar Barnabas, Fr. George John served as the officiating priest. Services were conducted at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Fort Lauderdale since the beginning. Very Rev. Fr. Kirrill Gvosdev, vicar of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, was very kind to provide their church and its facilities for our worship. On December 30, 2000, H. G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios, senior Metropolitan of the American Diocese, offered Holy Qurbana here, and in December 2000 H. G. Mathews Mar Barnabas, Metropolitan of the American Diocese, declared the congregation as a parish in the American Diocese in the name St. Gregorios Orthodox church of India, South Florida and appointed Fr. George John as the vicar.
The members of the parish took much enthusiasm in attending the Sunday service even though it was conducted very early in the morning at 6:00 am. After the service the parking lot and people’s vehicles was used to conduct Sunday Schools. The parishners also conducted refreshments and the meetings of the church at the parking lot.
In February 2009, by the grace of God, the church bought a building that belonged to a Ukrainian club in Hollywood. The city granted the Certificate of Use as a church in June 2009, and the renovation work on the building was completed by October 2010. Fr. George John performed the temporary consecration on November 6th and offered Holy Qurbana & conducted the feast of Parumala Thirumeni on November 7th. The official consecration will be done by H. G. Alxios Mar Eusebius, Metropolitan of the Diocese of South West America, on January14th and 15th.
We, the members of the parish utilize this occasion to praise God for His continuous blessings from the very beginning and surrender ourselves to His Loving Feet.