Hellenic Heritage Collection

Newark’s Greek community was one of many immigrant communities to make a tremendous impact on the cultural landscape of New Jersey. Large scale immigration from Greece in the late 19th and early 20th centuries resulted in the formation of ethnic communities in various New Jersey cities, including Newark. Offering a less urban environment than New York City, Newark provided a variety of job opportunities to Greek immigrants, including work in leather tanning businesses, cigar factories, and breweries. Many worked as food vendors and later on as restaurateurs and business owners. Although small in numbers, estimated to be around 10,000 in 1910, Greek immigrants carved their own niche in this diverse and thriving city.

Newark’s Greeks formed a close knit community based around church and family life. They founded the first Greek Orthodox Church in New Jersey, the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, also known as the “Mother Church of New Jersey,” incorporated in 1906 and located on High Street (now Martin Luther King Boulevard) since 1924. Led for thirty-six years by Rev. George Spiridakis, and later on by Rev. James A. Aloupis for forty-seven years, St. Nicholas served as a center for Greek-American religious life and culture. In 1928 a second Greek Orthodox Church was established in Newark, St. Demetrios Church, located in its later years on Clinton Avenue.

Family was central to the lives of Greek Newarkers and family picnics, celebrations and get togethers were frequent occurrences. Weddings and baptisms were large scale gatherings that served to bring the community together. Community involvement was evidenced in the popularity of Greek American church based philanthropic, educational, and religious organizations such as Philoptochos, G.A.P.A. (Greek American Progressive Association), and G.O.Y.A. (Greek Orthodox Youth Association). These organizations also helped to encourage the continuance of Greek language, cultural traditions, and history. Traditional Greek costumes were worn on occasions such as Greek Independence Day, celebrated annually on March 25th. Religious holidays such as Pascha (Easter) were multi-day celebrations filled with church service attendance, family gatherings, and traditional Greek foods.

Greek-owned businesses thrived, with restaurants, bakeries, flower and candy shops, barbers, and hat shops located throughout the city. Many Greek Americans served in the U.S. military with pride during World War II and participated in many war relief efforts. Individual success stories such as those of theater owner Adam A. Adams, U.S. Army General Leonidas Gavalas, prominent local cardiologist Dr. Nicholas Antonius, and architect William Chirgotis were a testament to the Greeks’ successful assimilation into American society. Greek families encouraged the maintenance of traditional culture and family life while stressing the values of education and hard work. Many more second generation Greeks entered various professions such as law, education, engineering and the arts. The success of the community combined with the benefits of the GI Bill, afforded many the opportunity to move to homes in suburban areas. Gradually, the once concentrated community of Newark’s Greeks began to disperse.

As a result of this exodus, other Greek Orthodox churches were founded throughout the state. Newark’s changing social and economic landscape contributed to the diffusion of the community. In the later decades of the 20th century, church attendance at both churches began to decline. St. Demetrios Church relocated to Union, NJ in 1984. After years of declining church attendance, St. Nicholas Church decided to merge with the community of Sts. Constantine and Helen of Orange, NJ and will relocate to a new church facility in Roseland, NJ. The last church service was held at St. Nicholas in Newark on December 30, 2007, signifying the end of an era for Newark’s Greeks.