Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church |
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Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church
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| Location | 799 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1940s–1960s (post-World War II) |
| Built | 1947–1950 |
| Architect | M. Vogiatzoglou, Joseph Gabriel Rooney |
| Architectural style(s) | Romanesque |
| Official name: Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 25 August 2000 |
| Reference no. | 601635 |
| Significant period | 1940s (historical) 1940s–ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | dome, church, mural / fresco, views to, tower, furniture/fittings |
| Builders | Vause and Hayne |
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Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church is a special old church located at 799 Flinders Street in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It's considered a very important historical building. The church was designed by M. Vogiatzoglou and Joseph Gabriel Rooney, and it was built between 1947 and 1950 by Vause and Hayne. Because of its history and unique design, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 25, 2000.
Contents
History of the Church
Greek People Arrive in Australia
A few Greek people started moving to Australia around 1850. However, many more came in the 1900s. This was often because of wars and problems happening in Greece at that time.
Greek families began to settle in Townsville around 1916. But they didn't officially form a Greek Community until the 1940s. Before they had their own church, a priest from Innisfail would visit to hold services. The leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, named Metropolitan Timotheos Evangelinidis, also visited and helped set up the community in Townsville.
Building a Church for the Community
During one of Archbishop Timothios's visits to Townsville in April 1944, a Greek resident named Thedoros Calagatis offered a large sum of money, £1,000, to build a Greek Church. Archbishop Timothios then called a big meeting for all the Greek people in Townsville on May 4, 1944. About 65 people came to this meeting.
At the meeting, they decided to build a church named Saint Theodores. They also wanted to start a Greek school to teach the Greek language and good values. The goal was to help the community work together and be loyal to Australia's laws. They collected almost £3,000 that night! This money was put into a special bank account for the church and school.
Around March 1945, a committee was chosen to buy land and start building. Their plan included building the church, a home for the priest, and a community hall. The first committee members who helped start the church included Theodoros Kalafatis, Michael Leondarakis, John Manikaros, and Spyridon Theo Nennas.
Saints Theodores Church was the third Greek Orthodox Church built in Queensland. M. Vogiatzoglou designed the church. J.G. Rooney was the architect, and Vause and Hayne were the builders. A local Townsville company, Gelling & Haig, made the steel parts for the church.
Laying the Foundation Stone
The first stone of Townsville's Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church was placed in a special ceremony on March 16, 1947. Archbishop Timothios led the ceremony. A special visitor from Greece, a Stratigos, was also there. Six months earlier, he had brought an urn with earth from the graves of Australian soldiers in Greece. This was a very special gift because it broke a 2,600-year-old tradition that said Greek soil could not leave the country. This tradition was broken to show how much the Greek Government admired Australia for sending soldiers to help defend Greece. The soil was given to the Prime Minister of Australia, Ben Chifley.
The Church Opens
Even while the church was still being finished, religious services started in 1948. The church was officially opened and dedicated in June 1950. It is named after three different saints, all called Theodore.
A book about Townsville written after the church opened described its inside. It said the church's interior follows the Byzantine style, which is a very old and beautiful design. It has graceful rounded columns and arches that support a choir gallery. The part of the church where the altar is rises up to a domed roof. When you walk towards the altar, your eyes naturally look up to the dome. There, you see a painting of Christ with his hands raised in blessing, looking down.
An artist named Angelo Manolios came all the way from the Island of Lesvos in Greece to paint the religious pictures, called icons, on the plaster of the dome. He worked for twelve months, lying on his back on special scaffolding. His paintings around the altar show the important teachings of the Orthodox Church.
The first priest for the church was Father George Kateris. He served the Greek community in Townsville from 1946 to 1953. Luke and Despo Lucas were the first couple to get married in the church on September 19, 1948.
Metropolitan Theophylactos Papathanasopoulos officially opened and dedicated Saints Theodores Church in June 1950.
Today, the church is still very active. It runs a Greek School, a Greek Dancing School, and groups for Greek youth, ladies, and senior citizens. It also has a playgroup and hosts Debutante Balls for the community.
What the Church Looks Like
Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church is a red brick building. It has a tall tower in the middle, right above the main entrance on Sturt Street.
The roof of the tower and the dome above the altar are painted white. The window frames on the top part of the tower are also white.
Inside the church, there is a main area for the people attending services. Above this area, there is a choir gallery.
The altar and the walls around it are covered with many Greek Orthodox religious paintings and icons. Above the altar, the dome has a painting of Christ with his hands stretched out. It also shows pictures of the Apostles.
Why the Church is Important
Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 25, 2000. This means it is a very important historical place.
The church shows us how Greek people moved to and settled in Queensland. It also shows how the Townsville Greek Community helped meet the religious needs of its members.
Saints Theodores Church has rare and special architecture and decorations, both inside and out. These designs are connected to Greek Orthodox religious practices and traditions in Queensland and Australia.
The church also looks beautiful and adds to the streetscape of Sturt Street in Townsville. It is valued not only by the local Greek Orthodox community but also by the wider Townsville and Queensland community.
This place has a special connection to the important Greek community that grew in Queensland during the 1800s and 1900s, and continues to be strong today.
