Welcome to the Greek Orthodox Church of
St John Chryosostom in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
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Θεία Λειτουργία
Divine Liturgy in Greek & English
Schedule: Every 2nd Sunday, Services at *09.00 to 12.00 (*unless advised otherwise)
Establishment
The Greek Orthodox Community in Cheltenham and Environs started Church Services at St Luke’s Church in Cheltenham in 1986. Liturgies were very rarely held and was conducted firstly by priests from Oxford until 1990; when his Eminence The Late Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain Gregorios, established our present Church of St John Chrysostom. The Church services were then held once a month on the 2nd Sunday, conducted by various visiting priests until May 1999 when the late Father Anthimos Papandreou of Eternal Memory was appointed the priest in charge. The Services continued once a month but on the fourth Sunday instead. However, since we have moved into our own church building in Bentham where we are today.
Our mission
To provide anyone with an interest in the Orthodox Christian faith with a safe and family-friendly community and spiritual home in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, irrespective of their background. Our Church also conducts special services for Pascha (Easter) and Christmas, according to the dates of the Orthodox Church. Other services include baptisms, weddings and funerals, in addition to visits to those who are sick at home or in hospital or care. Our Priest will also bless homes and provide instruction to those who wish to become members of our Orthodox Church.
About us
We are a parish of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Thyateira and Great Britain but open to any Orthodox Christians or simply those who have an interest in the oldest form of Christianity with roots that go back to the Holy Apostles. In our community, which attracts a variety of people of different ages from across the Cotswolds and beyond, you will find Orthodox Christians from many different backgrounds.
Our services are in Greek and parts in English with a founding community of mainly Greek Cypriot families who settled in the UK from the early 1950s onwards and now counts third and fourth generation members of our congregation.
The Holy Liturgy takes place at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. John Chrysostom in Bentham Lane, Bentham, GL3 4UD, near Cheltenham. We are managed by active committees, including the Ecclesiastical Committee and Ladies Philanthropic Committee, which organise not only support for Liturgies and Feast days, but numerous fund raising and social activities including the annual parish dinner dance and summer BBQ’s.
On 12th March 2010 the Church and generous contributors purchased a plot of land adjacent to the Church, which it is hoped will be used to extend our parish by either building and creating additional parking for when people visit.
We are involved in joint missions with other Orthodox Parishes and welcome His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas to our Church. We have been visited by notable speakers, welcomed friends from the Churches Together Movement and visiting Choirs.
We welcome your visit both here on our website and in person at our parish.