About Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

The history of Saint Johns Orthodox Church in Omaha is closely tied to the history of the Greek community.

The first significant influx of Greeks in Omaha took place in 1904, when they arrived as replacement workers in South Omaha's large meat packing industry. By 1907 there were an estimated 2,000 Greeks in the greater Omaha area, though they were largely concentrated in South Omaha.

The Greeks were hard workers and the South Omaha flourished. By 1909 there were over thirty-two businesses owned by and largely catering the the Greek Community. In 1907 the need for a church was formally discussed, and by 1908 Saint john the Orthodox church was built at 16th and Martha streets. This building is still in service today as a Ukranian Catholic parish.

Interestingly Saint Johns was not officially incorporated until 1927 and concecrated in 1928 by Archbishop Vassilios. For a short period Omaha had two Greek Orthodox churches, due to a schism caused by political events in Greece.

The advent of World War II was to change the lives of Greek Americans forever. Rather than surrender to Mussolini's forces, Greece's Prime Minister John Metaxas refused Italian demands. The tenacity and ferocity of the Greek resolve were a source of admiration around the world.

Following the war, Greece was did not share in the new found freedom that much of Europe experienced. The years 1943 to 1949 saw a bloody. protracted struggle against communism and totalitarianism.

On December 16, 1951, the parish finalized the purchase of the former Temple Israel, located at Park Avenue and Jackson streets. Interestingly, the temple began construction on 1907 and was dedicated in 1908; in parallel to the formation of Saint Johns. The Synagogue is architecturally Byzantine. Its dome, like that of the Sixth century marvel Haghia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) of Constantinople, had windows piercing it base and four pendentives resting on four heavy columns. This gives the building superior accoustics and a breathtaking internal view.

In 1953 the original church at 16th and Martha streets was sold and the new church occupied after undergoing extensive renovations. The new home of Saint John the Baptist parish was consecrated on Sunday, May 4th, 1958 with the Rt. Reverend Bishop Ezekiel of the Chicago Diocese officiating. Also in 1958, the parish drafted and approved a new constitution and community by-laws. The constitution provides for a parish council to be elected and vested with executive powers.

Saint Johns experienced slow, but steady growth through the next few decades as the Greek community continued to integrate into the social fabric of Omaha.

As the parish has expanded over time, so has the Orthodox reach into the Omaha community, culminating with the 2006 creation of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Omaha (GOCGO)- a daughter parish of Saint Johns which is located at 7505 Seward Street. With the creation in 2006 of a second Greek Orthodox parish in Omaha, the future of Orthodoxy in the area has never been brighter. GOCGO's evangelical nature has seen rapid growth, from 50 to 100 families in its short 2 year existence.

With its rapid growth GOCGO is currently moving from its Seward Street location to a larger facility at 9012 Q Street as part of its overall growth plan, as the parish has purchased 8 acres of land at 180th and Dodge in Western Omaha.

The combination of the two parishes assures the Omaha area of access to the Eastern Orthodox faith through the Greek Archdiocese. Both parishes are under the jurisdiction of His Eminence Isaiah of the Denver Metropolis.

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