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Charlotte, NC
The young parish of “Southeast Charlotte,” as it was called at its inception, began on February 11, 1998. A group of approximately 20 families met with Father Nick Triantafilou, who was then the Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral, in Charlotte. These families received his guidance and advice on pursuing a second Greek Orthodox parish in Charlotte. In the spring of that year, a meeting was held at Holy Trinity Cathedral, and a petition was signed and sent to His Grace Bishop Alexios requesting a second parish. In the summer of 1998, general meetings of interested families were held, and on August 27, 1998, His Grace granted the new parish in Charlotte.
In those early days, most of the parishioners were young families and most were situated in the southeastern suburbs of Charlotte. After receiving its charter, the parish moved quickly and on October 9, 1998, a special parish General Assembly was held at Holy Trinity Cathedral where the purchase of a 10-acre parcel on Kuykendall Road was approved. The parish was truly blessed when at this time, Father Steve Dalber was appointed the parish priest. Shortly, thereafter, the parish was named Saint Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church. Space for worship was soon rented at South Charlotte Middle School, where the parish celebrated its first Divine Liturgy on October 18, 1998. It made its home there for the next three and a half years.
In those early years, the parish flourished and grew to 200 families. The community developed several ministries including a thriving catechism school, an active Philoptochos chapter, GOYA, Joy/Hope Programs, a Byzantine choir, and many other groups that all held meetings in the basement garage of an existing house on the Kuykendall property. Weekday services were also held in the basement, which had been transformed into a small chapel. On January 23, 1999, a noted date in the history of the parish, the community celebrated its Ground Blessing on Kuykendall Road.
The parish was very grateful, during this time, to the Evrytanian Association, for the use of Elatos Park for Holy Week and Pascha Services for three years.
Meanwhile, in the year 2001, efforts were being made for the first building on Kuykendall Road. Joyfully, on April 14, 2002, the parish celebrated its first Divine Liturgy in the new Saint Nektarios Spiritual Life Center. His Grace Bishop Alexios made the parish’s dream a reality, when he announced that the community would be receiving the Holy Relics of Saint Nektarios from Aegina. On October 18-20, 2002, the parish and many Orthodox from surrounding areas held a Thyranoixia celebration for the new Spiritual Life Center, and the arrival of the Holy Relics of Saint Nektarios from Aegina.
The parish has grown to more than 280 families, and is served by Father Steve J. Dalber and Father Gregory Georgiou. Saint Nektarios has an active youth program, a catechism program with about 120 students, and Greek and Arabic classes are being offered for the first time this year. There is a bookstore called the Narrow Path Orthodox Christian Bookstore, and a book club that meets monthly.
Philoptochos memberships have grown from 55 in its first year to 127 this year. The parish is active in the greater community through the supporting of local charities and social service groups.
The fastest-growing sector of the church is the Young at Heart, a group comprised of individuals 55 years and older, who gather once a month for dinner and fun to organize trips, and to visit the elderly.
All of the parish’s income is derived from stewardship, the building fund, and contributions from supporters and friends. The community’s immediate goal is to pay off the debt on the Spiritual Life Center, so that construction can begin on the church sanctuary.
The mission of Saint Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church is to “commit herself to the will of God the Father, to the preservation and growth of the Holy Orthodox Faith in the Body of Christ, and to the love, service and salvation of mankind through the Grace of the Holy Spirit.”
Saint Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church would like to be known as a caretaker of the Holy Relics of Saint Nektarios. We welcome all Orthodox Christians for pilgrimages. The parish remembers His exemplary life of humility, perseverance, wisdom, faith, hope; and the importance of continuing the Lord’s ministry.
To visit the parish website, please click here.