Parish Profile
We extend to you a warm and heartfelt Orthodox Christian welcome. Our Greek Orthodox Cathedral is dedicated to imitating the love and faithfulness of Jesus Christ by sharing the gospel with our words and living it with our lives. It exists to lead the faithful to the worship of the Holy Trinity according to the Faith and Tradition of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Our witnessing to our Faith is accomplished through the Sacramental life of the Church, its values and traditions, stewardship, fellowship, service, and Christian education.Governance:
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral is a community of Orthodox Christians under the jurisdiction of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey and spiritual guidance of His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey. The Holy Metropolis of New Jersey is part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in the United States of America.
Location:
Norfolk, Virginia. Our Cathedral serves the second largest city in Virginia (pop. about 250,000) in a metropolitan area of 3 million. Norfolk has a long history as a strategic military and transportation point. The largest Navy base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk, is located in Norfolk along with one of NATO’s two Strategic Command headquarters . The city also has the corporate headquarters of Norfolk Southern Railway, one of North America’s principal Class I railroads, and Maersk Line, Limited, who manages the world’s largest fleet of US-flag vessels. As the city is bordered by multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bay front property. It is linked to its neighbors by an extensive network of Interstate highways, bridges,tunnels, and three bridge-tunnel complexes—the only bridge-tunnels in the United States.
Founded:
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral was founded on March 3, 1911.
Clergy:
Fr. George Bessinas, Presiding Priest
Ministries:
HOPE & JOY, GOYA, AGAPE, Annunciation Dancers, Orthodox Christian Fellowship(OCF), Young Adult League (YAL), Religious Education for the Youth and Adults, Library, Bookstore, Afternoon Greek School, Choir, Byzantine Chanters, Acolytes, St. Lydia’s Women’s Study Group, Bible Study, Golden Years, St. Maria of Paris Community Dinner and Cultural Committee. Our Cathedral also maintains and supports a Philoptochos chapter which is the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and Metropolis of New Jersey. The Hellenic Woman’s Club, founded in 1910, is an active woman’s organization which has consistently supported our Cathedral, charities and those who are in need.
Stewardship:
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral is a Stewardship community. We have no dues. We ask our parishioners to complete a Stewardship card and indicate the level of financial support that each family is able to contribute based on the blessings which God has bestowed on each of us. For over 100 years, our parishioners have contributed the necessary time, talent and treasure which has allowed our Orthodox Christian community to thrive and grow.