The Cathedral

History of The Cathedral

Bishop Theodoritos of Nazianzos, Ph.D.
(Edited by the webmaster for the purposes of this website)


In the reign of Charles II, the Bishop of London, Henry Compton, and the Duke of York gave permission for the erection of the first Greek Orthodox Church in London, in the district of Soho, between Charing Cross Road and Greek Street . The church was dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin and was consecrated by the Metropolitan of Samos, Joseph Georgerinis, in 1677.


The first Greek Orthodox church in London, in the district of Soho, 1677

When the Greeks dispersed from the centre of London, the church was made over to the French Protestants (Huguenots) and later to the Church of England. It was eventually demolished, in 1936, when Phlippos Argenti salvaged the inscription that have been built into the walll over the entrance and is now incorporated m the left part of the narthex of St Sophia.

This inscription refers to the erection and consecration of the aforesaid church of the Dormition. "In 1677AD this church was erected for the nation, in the reign of the most serene Charles II, in the hegemony of the most noble Prince james, when Bishop was the Right Reverend Henry Compton, at the expenses of the above-mentioned and other bishops and nobles and of myself, the humble Bishop of Samos Joseph Georgerines, born on the island of Melos"


Chapel of the Russian Embassy

In the early nineteenth century, for over thirty years the Greeks residing in London worshipped in the chapel of the Russian Embassy in London, at 32 Welbeck Street WI (Pl. 19). However, because of an unfortunate misunderstanding, they decided to use instead as a place of worship a room (15 X 8 m) on the first floor of the offices of Ralli Brothers, at 9 Finsbury Circus, in the City. The Greek Chapel, as it was known, remained in use from 1837 until 1849 and was dedicated to Our Saviour, as a token of gratitude for the Liberation of the Greek Nation. The liturgical life of the Greek Community commenced under Archimandrite Galatis Galaction, who was present in London at this time, while some time later, Archimandrite Dionysios Xenakis took up duties as vicar.


The Greek Chapel in London, in the City, 1836-1849

Not long afterwards, Pandias Ralli suggested the creation of a committee to deal with financial and technical issues relating to the building of a Greek Orthodox church. A suitable site was finally found at London Wall in Little Winchester Street (which no longer exists). The plans were drawn by the famous Greek architect Lysandros Kaftantzoglou, who had numerous churches and Neoclassical buildings to his credit, and the construction was supervised by the architect Thomas E. Owen. The church of the Our Saviour was completed quickly and the first liturgy was celebrated at Christmas 1849.
 


King George I of the Hellenes attending Divine Liturgy in the church of Our Saviour, Sunday 11 October 1863.  


There is information on the architecture of the church in the book by John Timbs (Timbs 1867, 227). It is very similar to another two churches designed by Kaftantzoglou, in Athens, namely St Irene in Aiolou Street and St Dionysios (the Roman Catholic cathedral) in Panepistimiou Street. The church of Our Saviour was decorated with icons and sacred vessels offered by generous Greeks, which were subsequently taken to the church of St Sophia, in Bayswater. Archimandrite Narcissos Morphinos, vicar of the church of Our Saviour, inspired both the respect and love of the Greek Community.


The most important event in the annals of the said church was the visit by King George I of the Hellenes, shortly before he departed for Greece, for his coronation. He attended the liturgy celebrated on Sunday 11 October 1863.



The Greek church of St. Sophia, in Bayswater, 1879
In less than three decades, the restless spirit of distinguished members of the Greek Community led them to the decision to erect a new church, worthy of their spiritual inheritance. At the General Assembly of the members of the Brotherhood of the London Greeks, in 1872, a committee was set up to oversee the project. President was Emmanuel Mavrocordato and members were Constantinos A lonidis, Sophoclis Constantinidis, Petros P. Rodocanachi, Paraskevas Sechiaris and Demetrios S. Schilizzi. The committee was assisted in its task by the lawyer Edwin Freshfield. An estate agent found the plot of land in Bayswater and the committee duly commissioned the architect John Oldrid Scott to design a church in the Byzantine style, since it would be consecrated to the "Divine Wisdom of God, St Sophia".


The journal Panhellenic Calendar, which was published in London, gives the following description of the foundation ceremony of the church, celebrated on 18 July 1877 by Archimandrite Hieronymos Myriantheus: "Around the middle of July last year, in a splendid and magnificent ceremony, in front of a large crowd, the foundation stone of this Holy Church was laid. On a high grandstand and in the presence of the charge d'affaires of Greece, the Honourable Mr loannis Gennadios, the prominent members of the Greek community were gathered, among which one could distinguish the elder and honourable Mr Eustratios Ralli, the patriarch of the Greeks in this place.

This man, in the middle of songs and hymns, laid the foundation stone of the church. This man's name will be related to that Church for centuries. Furthermore, Emmanuel Mavrocordato, a patriot and lover of the arts, delivered a speech most fitting to that event". The silver trowel used by Eustratios Ralli for laying the foundation stone is now kept in the sacristy of St Sophia (Cat. no. 5). Within a year and a half, the church had been built, and on 1 June 1879, the Feast of Pentecost, the first Liturgy was celebrated.


The church was consecrated by the Archbishop of Corfu, Antonios Hariatis, on 5 January 1882. An engraving of the bell-tower of the church, printed on silk, was produced to commemorate the occasion (Pl. 24). The marble inscription in the middle of the church facade is characteristic: "The Greek community in this island, which is the ruler of the seas, erected this church away from the beloved homeland and dedicated it to the divine wisdom of god, in the reign of the glorious and great Queen Victoria" .  In 1922, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided that St Sophia would become the Cathedral of the Metropolis of Thyateira, whose jurisdiction encompassed all Orthodox Christians in Western Europe. Later, St Sophia remained the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain

During the World War II, London was the seat of the Greek Government in exile and of King George II, and St Sophia was the cathedral of the Greek Nation. It suffered severe damage in the blitz, but was subsequently repaired.   In the 125 years of its existence, St Sophia has been visited by Ecumenical Patriarchs, Archbishops, Monarchs, Prime Ministers and other important persons, and has hosted many official celebrations.   The church of St Sophia is a pious foundation administered by the Brotherhood of the London Greeks, and is under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.

 

The Cathedral in the new Millennium [3D Panorama]
Left click on the picture, hold and scroll to view the Cathedral in QT 3D Panorama.

From "Treasured Offerings: The Legacy of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St Sophia London" exhibition catalogue published for the exhibit that took place March 1-25, 2002 at the Hellenic Centre, London.

Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens 2002. All rights reserved. ISBN 960-214-603-6

The catalogue, available in Greek and English, can be purchased from the Bookshop of the Cathedral of Saint Sophia (Divine Wisdom).