History of Of Our Parish
Assumption of the
Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church was founded in September 1964 as a new place of worship for Greek Orthodox families.
A small congregation purchased an abandoned building on Butterfield Street in Lowell, Massachusetts. The building had
been a Methodist Church at the turn of the century. In January 1965, the congregation was estimated
to be seventy-one members. Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos visited the community to pronounce that the Ecumenical Patriarch
of Constantinople had officially and canonically accepted the Church.
The late Rev. Michael
S. Kastanas, of blessed memory, served as priest during the foundation of the parish and continued serving as the
church's longtime spiritual leader for many years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Philip Gialopsos, of blessed memory,
who had served as priest of the Holy Trinity Church in Lowell, and who also was recognized as Dean of the
Orthodox churches in Lowell for many years. He is now succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Emmanuel
Clapsis.
For three decades, the Assumption church was
at the center of a small, but tightly knit group of worshippers. About 130 families
regularly attended the church, which was located in an inner-city section of Lowell. The Acre, as the area is known, many structures are packed closely together a fact which
may have contributed to the churchs destruction. In April 1999, a fire broke
out on the back porch of a neighboring three-story residence, then spread to the church.
By the time firefighters arrived, at 3:42 a.m., the interior was already an inferno.
Parishioners drove to the scene but could do little but watch. While firefighters
managed to salvage icons and religious ornaments, the church itself was a total loss.
The first step in rebuilding has begun. Land was purchased in Dracut, MA by the community so that construction could begin. This event heralded the exciting start of a whole new beginning for Assumption Church. Our church will be a landmark in the town of Dracut true to the traditions of our
Holy Orthodox Church while embodying quality construction and technology so that the end result will be a source of inspiration
and pride, a lasting tribute to the continuity of the Orthodox Faith and our faithful past, present and future.
On April 20, 2003 (Palm Sunday) finally
our church doors opened. This was a great day in our Churchs history! This could not have been possible without the love, support and dedication of you, our beloved parishioners
and our many friends and loved relatives.
