The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Demetrios - Elmhurst, IL

From the beginning, involvement in the parish of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church has been a family affair with husband, wife and children all volunteering or serving in some capacity. The same is true today where there are even more opportunities to serve the church and community. We encourage you to contact us or our spiritual fathers to learn about our faith and community activities. Your contribution and participation in our church services and ministries is always welcome!

As with any Holy endeavor, the road to building the church was long and sometimes unsure. The founding members wanted to build an Orthodox Church and Greek School that would serve people's religious and spiritual needs as well as promote and sustain the Greek language, Hellenic heritage, culture and traditions. The process that began in 1966 finally led to the consecration of the church on October 27, 1985. By that time, not even the name of the Church was the same.

Initially named All Saints Church, the church was renamed Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and obtained its charter from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America and the State of Illinois on February 1, 1967.

The first home of the church was rented from the Immanuel Lutheran Church of the United Church of Christ (just North of our present site) by Ted Dulles, our first parish council president and Bishop Meletios, the Bishop of the Chicago Greek Orthodox Diocese at the time. Bishop Meletios assigned Reverend Leon Katshihitis to serve as the first spiritual father for our parish.

The permanent home of the church was to be built on Illinois Highway Route 83 between North Avenue and Lake Street. The land was pledged for this purpose by two of the founding families but that is not what actually happened. Tragedy struck on February 21, 1970 when a fire gutted the entire Immanuel Lutheran Church being used by our parish. After a brief time in the gymnasium of the church, the St. Demetrios Parish Council voted to purchase a vacated building facility of Elmhurst's Churchville Junior High School just down the street.

Our present church now stands on the foundation of that junior high school. Under the supervision of Father Peter Malamis and the tireless members of the Parish Council, a group of outstanding architects, builders and iconographer completed our beautiful church and adjacent school.