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
Spring Preorder Food Sale
We have delicious Homemade Tsoureki (Easter bread), Spanakopita, Baklava, Koulourakia, Kourabiedes & an assorted dessert tray to help you with your Easter table!
All Order forms and checks (made out to Holy Spirit Church) accepted by mail or dropped off in church office by April 2 with 11 am – 1 pm Pickup on April 7 & 8.
Download flyer for order form and more information.
Download FlyerSupport 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.
2023 Stewardship Form
Please print and forward a completed copy to the church office.
Holy Spirit Church Events
Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry
On March 19, 26, and April 2 Philoptochos is collecting monetary donations to support the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (theocpm.org)
We will have a second tray in the narthex. Checks should be made out to “Holy Spirit Philoptochos” with “Orthodox Prison Ministry” in the memo line.
2023 Holy Week Schedule
+ April 8, Saturday of Lazarus:
9:00 am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
Make Palm Crosses after Liturgy
+ April 9, Palm Sunday:
9:00 am Orthros, 10:00 am Divine Liturgy
7:00 pm Bridegroom Matins
+ April 10, Holy Monday:
9:00 am Presanctified Liturgy
7:00 pm Bridegroom Matins
+ April 11, Holy Tuesday:
9:00 am Presanctified Liturgy
7:00 pm Bridegroom Matins
+ April 12, Holy Wednesday:
9:00 am Presanctified Liturgy
5:00 pm Holy Unction Service
+ April 13, Holy Thursday:
9:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
6:00 pm Passion Service
+ April 14, Holy Friday:
9:00 am Royal Hours of Pascha
Help decorate the Epitaphios after Liturgy
3:00 pm Vespers of the Burial of Christ
7:00 pm Lamentations Service
+ April 15, Holy Saturday:
9:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
11:15 pm Paschal Vigil, Resurrection, and Divine Liturgy Services
+ April 16, Great and Holy Pascha:
Noon (12:00 pm) Agape Vespers
March Lenten Services
Lent Begins on Monday, Feb. 27
Presanctified Liturgy
+ Friday Mornings at 9:00 am, March 3 – April 7, at Holy Spirit GOC
Fridays at 9:00 am on March 10, March 17, March 24, March 31, April 7
+ Wednesday Evenings we will alternate between Holy Spirit GOC and Annunciation GOC.
Note the TIME difference and location each Wednesday:
Wednesday, March 15 at 5:00 pm at Annunciation GOC (962 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607)
Wednesday, March 22 at 6:00 pm at Holy Spirit GOC (835 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620)
Wednesday, March 29 at 5:00 pm at Annunciation GOC
Wednesday, April 5 at 6:00 pm at Holy Spirit GOC
Salutations to the Theotokos
+ Friday Evenings at 7:00 pm, March 3 – 31
Friday, March 10 at 7:00 pm Salutations 2
Friday, March 17 at 7:00 pm Salutations 3
Friday, March 24 at 6:00 pm Annunciation Great Vespers (at Buffalo Annunciation GOC)
Friday, March 31 at 7:00 pm Akathist Hymn
Lenten Psalm Reader Group
The 2023 Psalm Readers Group will be starting on Monday, Clean Monday, February 27th through Friday, April 7th, the day before the Saturday of Lazarus.
The goal is to read the Book of Psalms, also called the Psalter, daily during the 40 days of Great Lent 2023 individually and as a group. If you are interested, contact Anna Pink.
Click for More InformationMetropolis Webinar Series
First Wednesdays 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The next webinar will be on Wednesday, May 3 at 7:00 pm on "Marriage and the Holy Liturgy" at Holy Spirit GOC in the church office. Note that there will NOT be a webinar in April.
In case you miss any of the talks, you can view them online at: https://discoverorthodoxy.org/webinarseries.
Philoptochos Lenten Project
Household Goods Collection for Saint’s Place – June 4 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 they need and what they are not taking.
Download Flyer
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.
View Blessing Bag List
Holy Spirit Philoptochos Book Club (HSPBC)
Open to All Parishioners
Wednesday, February 8 at 6:30 pm
Monday, March 13 at 6:30 pm
Monday, April 3 at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, May 10 at 6:30 pm
Currently offered in-person at church and via Zoom. Contact Anna Pink for the zoom link.
Click Here for More Information
Philoptochos
General Meeting Dates 2022 - 2023
General Meetings take place in the Philoptochos Room during coffee hour after the Sunday Divine Liturgy.
September 18, 2022
October 9, 2022
October 30, 2022
January 8, 2023
February 12, 2023
March 19, 2023
May 7, 2023
June 10, 2023
There will be no GreekFest this year (2022), but we will be offering other events on our website.
The People's Pantry
We continue to collect food and other necessities for the formerly named “South Wedge Food Program,” who have now changed their name to “The People’s Pantry of Rochester.” A table with bins for collecting items is along the fellowship hall wall (left of the bookstore entrance.) If you would like to donate financially, write a check to “Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church” with “For The People’s Pantry” in the memo line.
You can also visit us on our Social Media sites:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HolySpiritGreekOrthodoxChurch
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BghWQGfJrGbtbH3JBg2NA
National Directory of Orthodox Mental Health Providers:
https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/mental-health/
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
View Live On Youtube Click here to View Father Jim's Homilies
AGES 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:
https://www.goarch.org/live-
Encyclicals from Patriarchate and Archdiocese are not available to insert.
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...