Parish History
A Brief History of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Canton, Ohio
Holy Trinity was established in 1917 amidst the turmoil and divisiveness of the First World War. It was a church established by primarily single Christian Greek males from Asia Minor (modern Turkey) where they had been persecuted for over four centuries. The foundation of Holy Trinity was an affirmation of the faith and ethnicity for which they were persecuted during the ethnic cleansing of the moribund Ottoman empire of the early 20th century. Many men fled their homeland in 1912 and 1913 to escape conscription in the Ottoman military during the two Balkan Wars, which meant fighting in a war against fellow Greek Orthodox Christians. These men were attracted to Canton because it was a rapidly expanding industrial center and offered employment. Most men intended to return to their homes after the wars, assuming the Greek army would be victorious, with money saved from working in America’s factories. The war between Greece and Turkey following World War I shattered that dream and eliminated any chance of their returning home. They lost their homes in Asia Minor without compensation, and the members of their families – mostly women and children – who survived the persecution and lawlessness of those years joined them in Canton.
The church was established on April 4, 1917 at the northwest corner of 10th Street and Ross Avenue NE where the greatest concentration of parishioners lived at that time, clustered near the factories and mills. On April 17, 1917 the state charter for establishing the church was issued. On April 22, 1917, the groundbreaking and the laying of the foundation stone of the church occurred. The cornerstone of the church was laid on Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 1917 by Theodore George Aslanides. With construction completed later that same year, the church became the first Greek Orthodox church erected in Stark County. On Sunday June 13, 1920, the mortgage of the church was burned, taking only three years since the establishment of the parish to pay off the debt incurred to build the church.
The completed church was dedicated on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, 1922, by Archbishop Alexander (in office, 1922-29), the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of North and South America. Archbishop Alexander's visit was especially significant because it came soon after his elevation as hierarch on May 11, 1922. This was the first of many visits by members of the church hierarchy: Archbishop Athenagoras, Archbishop Michael, and Archbishop Iakovos, all frequent visitors to Holy Trinity.
Koraes Ladies Society was the first parish organization formed in 1927 to support the education of children. This organization was responsible for the creation of Koraes Hall, the first Greek Cultural Center erected in Stark County, which was built adjacent to the church. The cornerstone of this hall was laid on June 12, 1927, the Sunday following Pentecost and was officiated by Bishop Philaretos, the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Chicago. The tenth anniversary of the parish was also celebrated at this time. Koraes Hall was annexed to the church in 1934, thus joining the church and social hall together into one structure.
When the parish had finally outgrown the original 10th Street church, it was decided to build a completely new facility at 4705 Fairhaven Avenue NW. After almost sixty years as the home of the parish, the last service was held at the original church on Sunday, November 21, 1976. On March 14, 1976, groundbreaking took place for the new sanctuary in Plain Township. The first service at the new location was celebrated on Easter Sunday, 1977. Archbishop Iakovos (in office from 1958-96) later consecrated the new structure on Sunday, September 21, 1980.
After the initial sale of the former church, the property at 10th Street and Ross Avenue NE changed hands multiple times until it was abandoned and later set ablaze on September 2, 2020. Canton City officials subsequently condemned the property, and the church was demolished on September 17, 2020. The Ohio History Connections, the state historical society, later recognized the property as the religious and cultural center of the Greek Christian refugees of Asia Minor. On September 17, 2022, a dedication ceremony was held for the installation of the historical marker.
The mortar and bricks of Holy Trinity are a durable monument to the tenacity and faith of its people and a testament and memorial to the blood, suffering, and tears of those from Pontos and elsewhere who did not survive. While the parish was originally a neighborhood church founded by Greeks from the Pontos region of Asia Minor, today Holy Trinity is a vibrant community of families from all over northeastern Ohio. The church today continues to welcome new converts of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. Holy Trinity remains a diverse and dynamic community of faithful Christians.
