The History of Staint Nicholas

The start of our St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in the City of Bridgeport dates back to the year 1932. It was a small group of Syrian immigrants who settled in Bridgeport that founded our church. A group of only six men created the “Syrian Soueidie Orthodox Society” back in 1932. The purpose of the club was to unite all the 35 Syrian Soueidie families in the community for the purpose of holding religious services and social gatherings.

Quickly, the group expanded to about 40 members. Seeing that mostly all the Syrian families lived on Broad Street , the Society purchased a four family building on Broad Street , which was converted to clubrooms used for a variety of purposes. Mr. Daniel Shamiss was the first president of the Syrian Soueidie Brotherhood Society.

The members experienced financial difficulties when the depression hit. As a result, dues were collected, and social events were arranged, bringing in some profits.

The women of the Syrian community formed their own society. Their idea was to become closer with the Syrians in the surrounding communities and eventually having a church for their own group.

At this time, the only Syrian Orthodox Church in the whole State of Connecticut was located in Danbury . Occasionally, the Priest Fr. George from the St. George’s Parish in Danbury came to Bridgeport to hold services at the clubrooms on Broad Street .

In a short while, many people in the Bridgeport area became members of the Danbury Church . Unfortunately the distance from Bridgeport to Danbury made it difficult to attend services in Danbury with any regularity. However the Syrian Orthodox people from both areas held many social functions together.

Many Syrians from Bridgeport attended Sunday services at the Greek Orthodox Church in Bridgeport . Due to the fact that the Greek Orthodox Church spoke Greek during the Divine Liturgy and at Sunday School, the Syrians were not learning the background of their own Orthodox faith.

Thanks to a few young ambitious Syrian people who desired the knowledge of their own Orthodox religion, a religious education program was organized with the help of Archbishop Antony Bashir in New York . Books and religious supplies were sent to Bridgeport for the Sunday School. The leaders in this religious education program were girls who volunteered their services every week. Among the most active were Mary Mike, Karen Macol, and Helen Zamary.

In 1952, bad news reached the Syrian community. The new state highway would go right through the City of Bridgeport and the building, which acted as a church, and clubroom for the Syrians would be demolished. Something had to be done! Those hard-working Syrian people would not let their years of organizing this Orthodox religious group falter.

A committee to locate a new site was quickly established. The committee consisted of John Betar, (chairman), Asper Zariff, George N. Macol, Henry Midney and John Nassra. A Building Fund committee was formed to raise funds to buy land and build a church.

This committee consisted of Frank Showah, John Betar, George N. Macol, Michael Terek, and John D. Zamary. They purchased a piece of land at 910-920 Norman Street . There was a building on the property, which was to be converted into the first community church.

It was at this time the St. Nicholas Board of Trustees was created. Elected to this Board were John Betar who served as chairman, George N. Macol, Albert Lewis, John Nassra, Louis Shamas, John D. Zamary, Asper Zariff, Francis Showah, Louis Gramesty, Michael Terek, and George Mosessian.

Another blow fell upon these people. Vandals took it upon themselves to burn the building on Norman Street to the ground. All was not lost. The damages caused by the fire were almost completely covered by insurance.

Plans were soon organized for the building of a new church. The Syrian Orthodox Youth Organization was the first contributor to the new building fund. In November 1953, SOYO held a Hafli (festival) in the Greek Social Hall. This event was an encouraging start. Many pledges were soon made for the building fund and it seemed as though their dream was not far from reality.

On May 10, 1955 , after two years of soliciting money, five acres of land on Park Avenue were purchased for a total of $42,000. Formerly an orchard, an eight room brick house and garage was located on the property.

Peter Petrofsky, a Russian architect organized the plans for the church. The contractors were Tomilson and Hawley from the City of Bridgeport , and the construction price for St. Nicholas Syrian Orthodox Church was quoted at $175,000.00.

On September 18, 1955 His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Antony Bashir, assisted by Father George George of the Danbury parish held an outdoor service under a huge canvas tent donated by Mrs. Katherine Betar in memory of her husband, Mr. Thomas Betar.

The first priest assigned to St. Nicholas Syrian Orthodox Church was Reverend Nicholas Saikley. He arrived on December 9, 1956 and held Sunday services in the parish house. In fact, all Sunday services were held in the parish house until the church was completed.

St. Nicholas Syrian Orthodox Church conducted cornerstone-laying ceremonies on February 24, 1957 . His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Antony Bashir officiated at the ceremonies and celebrated the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by Rev. Saikley, Rev. George George of St. George’s Church, Danbury, Rev. Joseph Simko of St. John the Baptist Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in Bridgeport and Deacon Fred Shaneen of St. Vladimir’s Seminary in New York.

A banquet followed and many attended, including important City and State dignitaries. There was money pledged and memorial gifts donated at the banquet. This was indeed a memorable and joyous occasion for St. Nicholas Syrian Orthodox Church.

By Easter, 1957, the basement of the Church had been completed. The Divine Liturgy was held in the new basement every Sunday, until the new church was completely finished.

On August 15, 1958 , Father Saikley was transferred from Bridgeport to Lawrence , Mass. On the same day, Father Victor George arrived as the pastor.

Since the official opening of the Church on July 28, 1957 the parish sponsored many functions in order to raise money for the purpose of liquidating the mortgage on the church property. The parish started holding an annual bazaar, “Taste the Middle East “, which today is still the largest annual event. There were also car raffles, bingo, Haflis (festivals) and organized dinners, which added to the church’s treasury.

In November of 1962, Father Victor George left our parish and we welcomed Father Michael W. Stott and his family.

On November 26, 1967 , St. Nicholas Syrian Orthodox Church celebrated its 10th anniversary with a banquet at the Journey’s Inn in Bridgeport . The burning of the mortgage was also celebrated. Metropolitan Philip was present and officiated at the burning of the mortgage ceremony. Mr. Frank Showah was the toastmaster. It was a proud moment for all who put so much faith and work into their church.

In 1968, Father Michael W. Stott was transferred to Rochester , New York and St. Nicholas Syrian Orthodox Church received Father Anthony Silva for a short while. He left the parish and the Very Rev. John Chromiak became the parish’s new pastor in October of 1969.

From the time the church was built there were plans to build a church hall for St. Nicholas parishioners. This project finally went underway. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on December 6, 1971 on the church grounds.

In May of 1973 the new parish hall was completed. His Grace, Bishop Elia Saliba dedicated it on June 17, 1973 . It was a proud day for all parishioners for it showed how much St. Nicholas Syrian Orthodox Church had grown … in so many ways.

On October 30, 1977 one of the most beautiful and memorable events took place in the church. Forty-seven elderly of the new St. Nicholas Antiochian Church were honored for their years of service and support. It was sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary. More than 300 persons attended this event at the parish hall.

From the time all of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church organizations started, they were strong and consisted of diligent workers. The church still has the same organizations. Now they consist of many second and third generation children of the original founders, and many converts to the Orthodox faith.

The church also has an active Church School , starting with Kindergarten and continuing through the Adult Program. The altar boys, the choir and the chanters participate on Sundays and feast days for the Divine Liturgy, as well as other services during the week, especially during Great Lent. The chanter, George Younes, served the church for a great many years with Toofik Hanna.

As for social events, St. Nicholas Church still has their annual bazaar which is always quite successful, and has now begun holding Flea Markets. The main attraction is the Arabic food and pastries, which always brings people from all over Fairfield County . Among some of the other affairs are dinner dances and Haflis only to mention a few. Bingo had been quite popular for a number of years, but has been given up because of the conflict with the teachings of the Church and the position of our Archdiocese. Many of our boys and young men belong to the Orthodox Basketball League, which fosters fellowship with parishioners of other Orthodox parishes in the Bridgeport Area.

In August of 1978, the Very Rev. John Chromiak was transferred to another parish, and we welcomed Rev. Father Joseph Purpura, and his wife Kathy, who was assigned as our pastor by Metropolitan Philip. Since the short while he has been here, he organized the Senior SOYO, which has had quite a successful beginning. A large Junior-SOYO project, which started in 1974, has been completed. The Junior SOYO recently purchased the beautiful Royal Doors for the church. Father Philip Koufos did the Icons on the Royal Doors. Joseph Mitri, a parishioner of the church, did the Woodwork.

The church is now undergoing a new project of having Icons painted. Iconographer, Christopher Kosmos, is doing them. The Icons are of the 12 Great Feast Days and the Resurrection of Christ, which are being donated by different parishioners. They will be placed in the body of the Church.

In 1932 the Syrian community consisted of only 32 families. In 1957 the parish consisted of 62 families comprising of about 250 people. By 1961 the parish numbered 88 families with some 288 people. Today in 1976 there are over 125 parish families. Parish members come from Bridgeport , Ansonia , Derby , New Haven , Fairfield , Trumbull , Stratford , in addition to other area cities.

It started as a dream, and today we are a community.