On the western edge of Milwaukee, where the city line meets Wauwatosa, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church has served Greek Orthodox Christians in southeastern Wisconsin since the early twentieth century. The parish, established in 1904 and incorporated in 1906, was one of the first ten Greek Orthodox parishes founded in the United States. Today it draws its identity from two sources that rarely meet in one place: an unbroken Orthodox liturgical tradition stretching back to Byzantine Christianity, and a singular mid-century church building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, completed in 1961 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Parish Founded in 1904
The Annunciation parish was organized in 1904 by Greek immigrants in Milwaukee and incorporated two years later. After the parish first gathered for worship in rented space in 1914, members built an imposing brick basilica on Broadway and Knapp in downtown Milwaukee. For years the parish was the center of the city's Greek community, but political tensions carried over from Greece after the First World War led to a split and the formation of a second parish, Sts. Constantine and Helen, in 1922.
Within a few years, Annunciation introduced two changes that were unusual for Greek Orthodox parishes at the time. In 1923 the parish installed pews and men and women began sitting together rather than on opposite sides of the nave. A choir was formed, and an organ accompanied the chanters. Both practices, unconventional then, are now common in American Orthodox parishes.
As the Greek population moved west into the suburbs, Annunciation followed. The community purchased land at the corner of 92nd Street and Grantosa Drive, on the boundary between Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, and began planning a new home.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Church
That new home is the building that defines the parish today. Annunciation commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956 to design the church; the project carried a budget of $1.5 million and was completed in 1961, after Wright's death. The structure is cast entirely from reinforced concrete and seats more than 800 people. A lower level houses a chapel, former parish offices, and fellowship spaces.
Archbishop Iakovos, then head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America, celebrated the first Divine Liturgy inside the new church on Sunday, July 2, 1961. The building's inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places reflects its significance as one of the few Orthodox churches designed by one of the twentieth century's most influential architects, and as an expression of Wright's vision for sacred space. Tours led by parish guides cover both the Orthodox Christian background of the building and Wright's architectural choices.
Sunday Worship: Orthros and Divine Liturgy
Annunciation gathers for Sunday worship in the upper church beginning with Matins (Orthros) at 8:00 a.m., followed by the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m. After the service, parishioners and visitors move to the James W. Pihos Cultural Center next door for a coffee social, a regular rhythm that turns the end of the liturgy into a time for conversation and connection. Services are conducted in English, with traditional Byzantine chant and congregational singing.
For those who cannot attend in person, services are livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page. A digital chant stand links worshippers to the Byzantine musical texts used in the services, and a memorial service request form and an altar candle request form are available online for those wishing to commemorate loved ones or arrange offerings.
Stained Glass and Iconography
The interior of Annunciation is shaped by its iconographic program. The stained glass windows throughout the church were created by Helen Hickman of Conrad Schmitt Studios Inc., and each is paired with an icon of the saint depicted. The parish offers explanations of the great feasts and saints whose images fill the nave: the Annunciation itself, celebrated on March 25 as one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church; Christ Pantocrator, whose image traditionally crowns the central dome as the Righteous Judge and Lover of Mankind; the Theotokos under several titles - Tender Mercy (the Eleusa), The Guide (the Hodegetria), and Mother of God; the Forerunner John the Baptist; the apostles Andrew, Luke, Matthew, Mark, John, Paul, Peter, and Stephen the Protomartyr; the Three Holy Hierarchs, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and Gregory the Theologian; the great martyrs George, Demetrios, Nikolaos, Barbara, and Catherine of Alexandria; and Athanasios of Alexandria.
These descriptions are not decorative background. They are part of how Annunciation teaches the faith. Each saint's entry explains the scriptural or historical roots of the icon, the theology the image conveys, and, in the case of the Theotokos, the meaning of titles such as Panagia (the All-Holy) and Theotokos (God-bearer).
The Orthodox Faith at a Glance
Annunciation identifies with the Greek Orthodox tradition, and the parish directs newcomers to a series of pamphlets titled Treasures of Orthodoxy, written by Father Thomas Fitzgerald of Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology. The series introduces the Orthodox Church, the path to becoming Orthodox, the Church's history, spirituality, the contents of an Orthodox church building, Orthodox teachings, worship, the sacraments, and special services and blessings. Inside the parish, these themes come alive through the liturgical calendar, the iconography, the stained glass, and the church tours that walk visitors through both the building and the beliefs it embodied.
Children, Teens, and a Week of Summer Camp
Annunciation places a strong emphasis on raising the next generation in the Orthodox faith. Sunday School meets on Sundays following Holy Communion and serves children from K3 through twelfth grade. The parish organizes this work through three age-based groups that mirror programs used across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese:
- HOPE (Holy Orthodox Primary Education), for children in K3 through first grade.
- JOY (Junior Orthodox Youth), for second through sixth graders.
- GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America), for seventh through twelfth graders, with regular gatherings and events.
Beyond Sunday School, the parish runs Vacation Church School (VCS), a week-long summer day camp for children in K3 through eighth grade, and an annual basketball tournament that brings second through twelfth graders together for a weekend of competition. Older youth also have the option of attending FANARI Camp, a week-long overnight camp run by the Metropolis of Chicago for students in sixth through twelfth grade. Online registration for Sunday School is available through the parish's Realm database.
Visiting the Church
Annunciation welcomes visitors, but the church building itself is only accessible by guided tour, and tours must be booked in advance. A tour lasts about one hour: guides begin with a seated presentation about Orthodox Christianity and Wright's architectural vision, then open the floor for questions before giving visitors time to explore the nave and take photographs. Cameras and video are allowed.
Tour fees are $150 for groups of five or more, $30 per person for parties of four or fewer, and $10 for children fifteen and under. The church is handicap accessible except at the upper church level; accessible restrooms are available in the James W. Pihos Cultural Center next door, along with the parish bookstore. Tour requests are handled through an online form, and the Church Tours Coordinator follows up to confirm arrangements.
Parish office hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office phone is (414) 461-9400, and email reaches the parish at info@annunciationwi.org.
The Cultural Center, the Grand Hall, and Greek Orthodox Manor
The James W. Pihos Cultural Center next door is more than the location of the post-liturgy coffee social. It hosts the bookstore, accessible restrooms, and the fellowship areas that anchor parish life. A separate Grand Hall on or near the property is available for event rental, with bookings handled online.
Through a long-standing partnership, Annunciation is connected to Greek Orthodox Manor, an affordable housing community for seniors that shares the Orthodox heritage of the parish. The Manor's relationship with the church is one expression of the parish's mission to love God, neighbor, and one another - a phrase that appears throughout the parish's materials as its formal mission statement.
Membership, Stewardship, and Parish Communication
Annunciation is a stewardship parish. Each year the community invites members to make a financial pledge for the coming year, and an annual stewardship drive gathers pledges of time, talent, and treasure. Online pledging is available through the parish's Realm database, and printable pledge forms can be downloaded for those who prefer paper. Donations can also be made online any time of year.
The parish keeps in touch through two regular publications: Koinonia, the monthly newsletter whose name means Communion or Community, and the Messenger, the weekly Sunday bulletin. Archived issues of both are available online, with bulletins going back several years.
At the time of Christmas, the parish compiles an Annunciation Christmas Card with the names of those who participate, an annual tradition supported by donations. A parish directory, photos of the church's iconography, and a downloadable ministry brochure give newcomers a fuller picture of parish life.
The Priest and the Parish Today
Annunciation is currently led by Rev. Fr. Ciprian Sas, the parish priest. Father Ciprian and his family joined the parish on September 1, 2019. He serves the liturgical, sacramental, and pastoral needs of the community and is the main pastoral contact for the congregation.
From its founding more than a century ago by Greek immigrants in downtown Milwaukee to its present home in a Wright-designed concrete sanctuary on the Wauwatosa border, Annunciation has kept a continuous Orthodox witness in southeastern Wisconsin. The combination of ancient liturgy, an architecturally significant building, an extensive iconographic and stained glass program, and a robust schedule of youth ministries gives the parish a strong sense of identity - one rooted in faith, place, and a long view of history.