The Oldest Greek Church in Arizona
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral has stood on East Maryland Avenue in Phoenix since 1973, when the congregation traded its earlier home on East Virginia Avenue for a 17.5-acre campus that quickly earned the nickname "The Jewel of the Desert." Founded in 1930 by pioneer Greek immigrant families, Holy Trinity is the oldest Greek Orthodox community in Arizona and was elevated to the rank of Cathedral in 1988.
The parish states its purpose simply and directly: "To be a welcoming community sharing Christ's love through faith and service." Though rooted in Hellenic tradition, language, and music, the Cathedral now conducts most of its services in English and draws a multigenerational membership that includes families of every background who have discovered Orthodox Christianity in the desert Southwest.
From Virginia Avenue to the Jewel of the Desert
Greeks first arrived in Phoenix in 1909, when two brothers, Charles and Chris Sanichas, came west from Chicago after immigrating from Greece in 1907. They opened fruit and confectionary stores in downtown Phoenix, then still a dusty city of 11,134 people. Over the next two decades a larger Greek community took shape, and in 1930 the immigrants banded together to build the first Hellenic Orthodox Church in Arizona on an unpaved stretch of East Virginia Avenue. A local contractor received $15,900 for the church and adjoining community hall. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated there on March 25, 1931, by a visiting priest, and Rev. Ieronimos Koutroulis became the first resident priest that Easter, serving until 1947.
By the early 1970s the Virginia Avenue buildings had begun to show their age. Parish president George P. Kokalis championed the sale of that property and the purchase of a 17.5-acre parcel at 1973 East Maryland Avenue, the Cathedral's present address. The completed building, finished over many years, contained what was at the time the largest installation of colored faceted glass in the southwestern United States, as well as hand-painted iconography brought from a trained iconographer in Greece. The structure has been known as "The Jewel of the Desert" ever since.
On February 7, 1988, His Grace Bishop Anthony elevated Holy Trinity to the rank of Cathedral by proclamation, a designation the parish carries today. Now in its tenth decade, Holy Trinity continues to grow and to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the apostolic tradition and worship of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Ken Toney's Faceted Glass and the Cathedral Interior
The Cathedral is best known for its monumental stained glass program, eight panels created by artist Ken Toney in faceted glass and installed in 1974 and 1975. The four largest panels measure 38 feet by 20 feet and depict the Crucifixion of Our Lord, the Annunciation of the Mother of God, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of the Lord. Four additional panels, each 4 feet by 19 feet, show Saint Stephen, the Theophany or Baptism of Christ, Saint Nicholas, and the Nativity of the Savior. Combined with the hand-painted iconography imported from Greece, the windows give the sanctuary a visual language that ties the Phoenix parish to centuries of Orthodox practice.
Sunday Worship: Orthros, Divine Liturgy, and Fellowship
Sunday morning is the heart of parish life. Orthros, the daily Matins service that commemorates the saint or feast of the day, begins at 8:15 a.m. in the Cathedral. The Divine Liturgy follows at 9:30 a.m. and is described by the parish as "the main way wherein Orthodox Christians worship God but all are welcome to join us." Hymns are sung by the choir in both Greek and English, and the worship engages all five senses: sight through the iconography, sound through chant, touch through the greeting of neighbors in the Liturgy, smell through incense, and taste through the reception of Holy Communion.
After the service, refreshments are served at the Fellowship Hour in the Speros Center. Everyone is encouraged to attend, including visitors who want to meet parishioners. Sunday School for students from preschool through tenth grade meets in grade-level "pods" most Sundays following the Divine Liturgy, presenting a Christmas program and a graduation each year, and gathering for retreats and a summer day camp.
Saturday Vespers and Bible Study
The Cathedral's Saturday rhythm centers on Great Vespers at 5:00 p.m., a weekly evening service that lasts about 45 minutes. Just before Vespers, the parish gathers at 3:30 p.m. for Bible Study, a class that meets weekly each fall through Great Lent. The class, run by Fr. Apostolos Hill or Fr. Alexander Eliades, is open to anyone who wants to attend.
Byzantine Chant and the Cathedral Choir
Music is woven into every service at Holy Trinity. The Cathedral Choir sings a polyphonic repertoire in both Greek and English during the Divine Liturgy and at special services throughout the year, while a separate Byzantine Choir chants Orthros before Sunday Liturgy and at every other service. The Byzantine Choir welcomes beginners as well as experienced chanters who want to learn the tradition. Together the choirs preserve and promote the Orthodox musical heritage of the parish.
The Clergy
The Cathedral is led by Fr. Apostolos Hill, Dean and Senior Pastor. A Greek Orthodox priest and musicologist, Fr. Apostolos was ordained first to the Diaconate in Kansas City in April 2000 and to the priesthood in July 2001 in Omaha. Before entering the seminary he worked in the transportation and cardio-thoracic medical device industries. He has recorded several acclaimed albums of Byzantine chant, including Gates of Repentance, Hymns of Paradise, and Cycles of Grace: Hymns from the Great Feasts. He and Presbytera Denise, his wife since 1983, are the parents of four grown children and the grandparents of nine.
Fr. Alexander Eliades joined Holy Trinity in June 2019 and was ordained to the priesthood in October 2020. A native of Northern California, he graduated from the University of California, Davis with a degree in history and a minor in religious studies before attending Holy Cross. He and Presbytera Laura are raising three children, Max, Penelope, and Markella, in Phoenix.
Deacon John Thrasher, retired after serving Holy Trinity as a deacon from the early 1990s until 2019, continues to assist in distributing Holy Communion to parishes that need help on Sundays.
Forming Children: Sunday School, Greek School, and Dance
Children's formation runs several programs deep. Sunday School serves preschool through tenth grade, meeting in grade-level pods after Liturgy and presenting a Christmas program and graduation each year. Little Lambs gathers newborns through kindergartners for Sunday playdates, an Easter Egg Hunt, and occasional Saturday evenings. Hope and Joy for grades 1 through 4, Junior GOYA for grades 5 through 8, and Senior GOYA for high school meet for fellowship events like bowling and hiking while growing into more focused study, service projects, and retreats as the children get older.
On top of the Sunday School curriculum, the Cathedral hosts St. Kosmas Greek School, with classes for both youth and adults in modern and ancient Greek language. The Holy Trinity Phoenix dance program, with more than 100 children enrolled, sends instructors to Greece and brings in experts to teach new dances, songs, and traditions. The program performs for the wider community and helps pass the heritage along to the next generation. OPA, the Orthodox Parents Association, coordinates parent support for the youth programs and gathers families for fellowship and cultural events.
4F: Faith, Fellowship, Food, and Fun
4F is Holy Trinity's monthly youth group for students in grades 1 through 12, with a name that spells out its four-fold focus. Each gathering combines break-out discussion groups for religious education, crafts, outreach activities, and games or sports.
Catechism, Altar Servers, and the Narthex
Several ministries support the work of the sanctuary. Catechism and Religious Education classes, taught by the priests, are open to all and serve as the required course of study for anyone preparing to become Orthodox. Altar Servers assist the priests in the altar during the Divine Liturgy and other services, with boys from age 8 through high school encouraged to take part. The Narthex ministry fields teams of parishioners who greet worshippers, help new visitors, organize the candles, pass the collection trays, and welcome everyone with a warm smile.
The St. Nectarios Bookstore
Open every Sunday after Liturgy, the St. Nectarios Bookstore carries icons, bibles, religious books, incense, and other devotional items. It is run by parishioners and named for one of the most beloved modern Orthodox saints.
Philoptochos, AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, and FOCUS
Holy Trinity hosts the philanthropic and civic organizations that have long been part of Greek American parish life, along with an Orthodox outreach to the unhoused. St. Katherine's Philoptochos is the Cathedral's chapter of the Philoptochos Society of the Archdiocese, the philanthropic "right hand of the church," made up of women of all ages who support the poor, the hungry, and those in need. Monthly meetings combine social, spiritual, philanthropic, and educational gatherings.
AHEPA Chapter 219 promotes Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, and family and individual excellence. It is the fourth-largest AHEPA chapter in the country and reported $57,500 in community donations in a single recent year. The Daughters of Penelope, an international women's organization, leads philanthropic, educational, and civic activities through community service and volunteerism.
FOCUS Phoenix is the parish's Orthodox outreach ministry, operating under FOCUS North America and honored to be an affiliate of the Assembly of Bishops. Each week the team heads out to local parks to offer food, work referrals, clothing, and shelter information to the unhoused. The parish has also hand-packed lunches for charity and supports service trips such as Project Mexico.
Adults, Young Adults, and Seniors
Orthodox Christian Fellowship, the Church's campus ministry, supports college students through prayer, mentoring, small-group fellowship, and connections with local Orthodox parishes. Living Orthodox is a pan-Orthodox young adult and adult community, with young adult ministry for ages 18 to 29 and adult ministry for ages 30 to 45, organizing retreats, workshops, community service, and social events. The Celebration Committee hosts a community luncheon on the first Sunday of every month to mark birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, 40-day blessings, and other life events, along with the yearly Paschal potluck and a Christmas Eve reception. Desert Diamonds brings together parishioners aged 55 and older for outings, theater, concerts, and other events around the valley.
Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure
Stewardship at Holy Trinity follows the classic Orthodox triad of time, talent, and treasure. Parishioners are asked to submit a new pledge card each year, attend Divine services, participate in ministries, and make a financial contribution toward their pledge through the ShelbyNext giving platform, by check, or by cash. Being a Steward in Good Standing is required to vote in Parish Assembly meetings, hold a ministry leadership position, or run for the Parish Council.
The Phoenix Greek Festival
Each fall the Cathedral hosts the Phoenix Greek Festival, a three-day celebration of Greek food, culture, and family fun that fills the Speros Center with music, dance, and pastries.
The James A. Speros Community Center
The Speros Community Center, named for the family whose gift built much of the parish campus, hosts fellowship after Sunday services and is also available for outside rentals. The Large Hall seats 300 guests for dinner with room for a dance floor; the Small Hall seats 100; the adjoining Lounge accommodates 50 and includes a bar that can be included or excluded from the rental; and the covered outdoor patio seats 450. The rooms are used for wedding receptions, quinceañeras, business meetings, and private parties.
What to Know Before You Visit
Holy Trinity welcomes anyone, Orthodox or not, to its services. Matins (Orthros) begins at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday and the Divine Liturgy follows at 9:30 a.m.; service books in the pews make it easy to follow along, and any parish member nearby will gladly help a first-time visitor. Holy Communion is offered only to Orthodox Christians who are prepared to receive it, but everyone is welcome to receive the antidoron, the blessed bread distributed at the end of the service.
Appropriate attire is long pants and a collared shirt for men, and for women dresses or skirts that cover the shoulders and reach the knees. Children are welcome in the Divine Liturgy, and quiet rooms are available in the Narthex next to the restrooms for parents with babies or restless toddlers. Visitors are invited to light a candle upon entering and to sign the Guest Book in the Narthex. Coffee and refreshments follow in the Speros Community Center at the south end of the parking lot.
The Cathedral livestreams the Divine Liturgy each week on its YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person. The parish office at 1973 East Maryland Avenue is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the church can be reached at (602) 264-7863.