Proclaiming 2017 as the 125th year of Orthodox Christianity in Greater Chicago, the ruling bishops of Chicago have endorsed a historic celebration to take place Saturday, September 30, 2017. Sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Clergy Association [OCCA] of Greater Chicago, the commemoration will include the celebration of a Pan Orthodox Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Lane Tech Auditorium, 2501 W. Addison @ Western AV, in Chicago, followed by a celebration banquet at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare, 8535 W. Higgins Rd, Chicago.

Chairing the event is Archpriest Nicholas Dahdal, rector of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cicero, IL. Chicago area hierarchs along with all area clergy will gather to concelebrate the historic liturgy. His Grace, Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic), Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, former Director of Education at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, will deliver the homily. Responses will be sung by the Pan Orthodox Choir of Greater Chicago, under the direction of Gordana Trbuhovich.

History reveals that the Orthodox Christian presence in Chicago began in the late 1800s with an organization called the "Greco Slavonic Brotherhood," comprised of immigrants primarily from Sparta and Corfu, in Greece, Montenegro and Hercegovina, in Serbia and Carpatho-Russians (Galicians) from the then, Austro-Hungarian Empire. After petitioning the ecclesiastical centers in their respective homelands in 1892, all three mother churches responded by sending a priest to serve the faithful, under the existing Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sitka, Alaska. This was the beginning of Annunciation Greek, Holy Resurrection Serbian and St. Vladimir Russian (later renamed Holy Trinity) Orthodox parishes. Today, Chicagoland's Orthodox Christian presence numbers nearly 80 parishes.

"A Pan Orthodox committee representing 20 parishes is working together on producing this significant event," said Gordana Trbuhovich, Event Coordinator assisting Fr. Nicholas Dahdal and the committee. "More volunteers and singers are encouraged and welcome." For further information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Fr. Nicholas (708) 656-2927 or Gordana (773) 619-8755.