St. Iakovos Church in Valparaiso Celebrates Opening of New Church Building

Photo: St. Iakovos Church/Aimee Lee and John Lee

VALPARAISO, IN — With heartfelt joy and spiritual celebration, the parishioners of St. Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church gathered June 14–15, 2025, for the Thyranoixia (Door-Opening) of their newly completed church – the only one in the U.S. dedicated to St. Iakovos, Brother of the Lord and First Bishop of Jerusalem.

The historic weekend was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, joined by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, Bishop Timothy of Hexamillion, and clergy from throughout the region.

The milestone fulfilled a longstanding dream for the small but vibrant parish of roughly 150 families, founded in 1981. After decades of holding services in temporary spaces, the new building now serves as a permanent spiritual home for the growing community.

In his address, Archbishop Elpidophoros praised the parish’s unwavering devotion, likening the occasion to Solomon’s temple dedication: 

“You have labored long and hard to build this spiritual home, inspired by the words of the Prophet and King Solomon: ‘I have built Thee an exalted house, a place for Thee to dwell in forever,’” he was quoted as saying by the Orthodox Observer. “And God will honor your faithfulness, as you go from strength to strength and from glory to glory in this House of Prayer.” 

Archbishop Elpidophoros also spoke about St. Iakovos, and added that one cannot hear the name “Iakovos” without thinking of Archbishop Iakovos, who reposed in 2005 and shepherded the Greek Orthodox faithful in North and South America for nearly four decades.

“The resonance of both great Hierarchs is surely a blessing for this community,” he said.

In his own remarks, Metropolitan Nathanael added:

“Your patron, St. James, writes powerfully: ‘Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works’ (James 2:18). This building is your testimony. It is faith in action. It is a visible sign of God’s presence in this place.”

The Archbishop also elevated Fr. James Greanias to Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, the highest honor for a married priest, on behalf of Patriarch Bartholomew.

The weekend included a celebratory gala honoring the parish’s founders, a clergy family breakfast, and a standing-room-only Divine Liturgy, during which worshippers heard the Lord’s Prayer in English, Greek, Serbian, and Arabic – reflecting the community’s diverse Orthodox heritage. 

Following the liturgy, Metropolitan Iakovos, former Metropolitan of Chicago and predecessor to Metropolitan Nathanael, was honored with a memorial service along with members of the St. Iakovos community who have fallen asleep in the Lord.

Nearly 30 catechumens have joined the church in the past year alone, signaling a bright and growing future for St. Iakovos in Northwest Indiana.

The church was made possible through the giving of many donors, including two families who accounted for $1.9 million in funding for the project. Fr. James Greanias also recognized the work that had been put in by those who did not see the project come to fruition, calling them “our great cloud of witnesses.”

“To our parish family and friends of today who have continued their legacy through your gifts of prayer, hard work, giving of your treasuries, let us hear the words of our beloved Father among the Saints, the Brother of the Lord, St. Iakovos, as he writes in his Epistle and as we hear at each Divine Liturgy,” he said. “‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.’ Do not, my brothers and sisters in Christ, underestimate the magnitude of this celebration and Thyranoixia.”

Previously, UOJ reported on an OCA mission in Missouri blessing their new church building.

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