There will not be a Greek Festival for 2024, but check back for some “Taste of Greece” food events.
Welcome to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit Website
The Holy Spirit parish was established in 1995 when approximately 50 families desiring to foster pastoral care and an intimate spiritual experience were granted permission to operate as a mission and subsequently as an official parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Metropolis of Detroit.
In 1998, we entered our present location, the former South Avenue Baptist Church. Construction of an iconostasis and the placement of icons in the altar area have transformed this sanctuary into our home of Orthodox prayer and worship.
Our parish, comprised of 170 families from diverse backgrounds, is a vibrant community with many opportunities for religious education, active youth and young adult programs, warm fellowship, and a wonderful spirit of volunteerism. We are a family-centered community helping each other to live our Orthodox Faith to the fullest.
"Our mission is to promote the spiritual well-being of those committed to the Greek Orthodox Faith and Traditions, and to reach out to all Orthodox Christians, converts, partners in inter-faith marriages and the un-churched Orthodox in the greater Rochester, New York area. The abiding purpose of the parish is to provide for full participation in the liturgical and sacramental life of the church through worship, service, witnessing, and community fellowship."
Holy Spirit GOC Mission Statement
Support Our Ministries
Click here to make a contribution to support Holy SpiritIn order to assure that the church receives the full value of your donation, please consider increasing your donation to cover the 4% fee charged by PayPal for their service.
2024 Stewardship Form
Please print and forward a completed copy to the church office.
National Hurricane Relief Fund
To raise funds for the immediate needs of those affected by recent Hurricanes.
Donate online at: https://www.goarch.org/donate/hurricane
Or place cash and checks into our second tray in the narthex on Sunday, Oct. 13 and Sunday, Oct. 20
Holy Spirit Church Events
Christmas Services
Vesperal Liturgy for St. Nicholas at 6:00 pm on Thursday, Dec. 5 (Feastday on Dec. 6)
Conception of the Theotokos: 9:00 am Orthros/Divine Liturgy on Monday, Dec. 9
Royal Hours of Christmas: 9:00 am on Tuesday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve: St. Basil Liturgy at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 24
Christmas Day: Wednesday, Dec. 25 with 9:00 am Orthros and 10:00 am Divine Liturgy for the Holy Nativity of Our Lord
2024 Christmas Bazaar
Friday & Saturday, December 6 – 7, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, December 8, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Download Flyer Vendor Application
Frozen Food Sale
As we prepare for our Holiday season, we once again are offering our delicious homemade food and dessert items to help you with the holidays. All items are frozen: some require only thawing and enjoying while others may require baking, but instructions are included.
Pick up of pre-ordered items will be available Dec 6 - 8, as well as for sale (while supplies last, for walk-ins) during our Christmas Bazaar.
Cooking/Baking Class 2025
Homemade Phyllo Dough
2 sessions to choose from:
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Saturday, February 8, 2025
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (arrive at 12:45 pm for session)
In the Church Fellowship Hall
Price: $45 per person.
Advent Psalm Readers Group
November 15 - December 24
Would you like to do something beyond Christmas shopping?
Then join our GOCHS NATIVITY FAST PSALTER Group
Goal: To daily read the Psalter during the 40 days of the Nativity Fast as a group. By Christmas you will have read the entire Book of Psalms twice! If you are interested email Anna Pink at annapink8790@gmail.com or call 585-721-9417.
Download Flyer
Angel Tree Project
for School # 12 Students (Ages 3 - 11 / Pre-K - 6th Grade)
Pick up an angel or two off of the tree in the fellowship hall to shop for desired Christmas gifts. We are giving unwrapped Christmas Gifts for local families to give to their children for Christmas.
All items DUE Sunday, Dec. 8
Download Flyer
Tele-Santa
Sign up for a personalized virtual call from Santa for your children.
https://www.stnicholas-tele-santa.com
Calls will be Dec. 6th - Dec 24th.
Download Flyer
Pet Blessing
11:00 am
Saturday
December 14, 2024
Philoptochos Spring 2025 Dates
Holy Spirit Philoptochos Book Club (HSPBC)
Open to All Parishioners
Book: “Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica"
Tuesdays, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
We are moving from Wednesdays to Tuesdays.
Tuesdays:Dec. 10, 2024, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, May 13
Currently offered in-person at church and via Zoom. Contact Anna Pink for the zoom link.
Download Flyer
Church School
on Sundays after Communion
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Level 1 for Ages 3—8
Please register your child(ren) by completing a registration form. Late registrations will be accepted. Return completed forms to the church office.
Sunday School 2024 Revised Schedule
Sunday School
- Nov 10
- Nov 24
- Dec 1
- Dec 8
- Dec 15
- Dec 22
- Dec 29
No Sunday School
- Nov 17
OCMC Trek4 Missions
Walking with the Holy Spirit
Trek everyday and log your progress:
Download Progress LogPray for Orthodox Christian Mission Center and missionaries as you trek daily or weekly.
Donate online at:
http://secure.ocmc.org/goto/WalkingwiththeHolySpirit
Thank you to our Trek4Missions walkers, who walked on a Genesee Valley Park trail on September 14th after the Elevation of the Holy Cross liturgy.
OCMC Missionaries in Albania: Macdonald Fall Newsletter
Download NewsletterFood Pantry Collection
Our parish collects food and other necessities for those in need in Rochester. We are currently donating to the Monroe Library branch, who have a food pantry to distribute to those in need. A table with bins for collecting items is along the fellowship hall wall. To donate financially, write a check out to “Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church” with “Food Pantry Donation” in the memo line.
Philoptochos Refugee Project
We are continuing with Household Goods Collection for Saint’s Place to help refugees (from Ukraine, African, and South American countries in turmoil) resettle here in Rochester. Most come with nothing or very little as they have run for their lives.
See flyer for list of what Saint's Place needs and what they are not taking.
View Our Updated List
Blessing Bags
Philoptochos is collecting items to assemble blessing bags, which are great to keep on hand in your car so you can have the bag to hand to someone in need. Donate a little or a lot – we have a suggested list of blessing bag items.
+ Blessing Bags: We have run out of blessing bags. Please bring in more items that can fit inside a gallon Ziploc bag so we can assemble more bags. Here are some suggestions: Toothbrush and toothpaste, Socks, Hand sanitizer gel or wipes, Tissues, Snack bars, Trail mix packs, Tuna and cracker packs, Soap, Deodorant, Band-Aids , Nail clippers, Bottle of water, [Gloves, knit hat in colder weather] Please bring in whatever you think would be useful and place in the designated boxes in the fellowship hall.
View Blessing Bag List
Metropolis Webinar Series
View Webinars on The Passions and other topics online at: https://discoverorthodoxy.org/webinarseries
St. Photios Shrine 2024 Essay Contest:
For U.S. Orthodox Students ages 13 – 19.
Essays due Dec. 6, 2024; email to: info@stphotios.com
Download flyer for more information.
Download FlyerYou can also visit us on our Social Media sites:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HolySpiritGreekOrthodoxChurch
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BghWQGfJrGbtbH3JBg2NA
Services at Holy Spirit
Sundays: Orthros: 9:00 AM | Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM
We can view live services on Facebook or see the recordings for later viewing.
View Live On Facebook
Youtube ChannelAGES Initiatives
AGES Initiatives is an online resource that provides a calendar of church services. It has the entire service including special hymns of the day, the epistle, and the gospel. This comes in handy if you prefer to follow the service with something written in front of you.
Click here to visit AGES Initiatives
Other sites to see:
National Directory of Orthodox Mental Health Providers:
https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/mental-health/
https://www.goarch.org/live-
Check our Calendar for other events...
For information on our services please contact the Church office at (585) 244-1976 between 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Thank you...