A Brief history of the origins of Perth’s Greek Community and the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helene
The first Greek settlers who arrived in Western Australia before 1900 found life to be both hostile and different to that of their original homeland. The language and culture were also alien to them, often enhancing problems of loneliness and isolation.
Furthermore, no organisation existed to help reduce the shock of transition for these early Greeks settlers. For Greeks the institution that could best serve this purpose and help them to maintain their Greek language, customs, traditions and religion, was the Greek Orthodox Church.
Between 1905 and 1911 priests from the Eastern States, namely Fathers Phocas and Kantopoulos, made regular trips to Perth to fulfil the spiritual needs of the local Greek population i.e. liturgies, weddings and christenings; Often conducting these services in the homes of Perth’s Greeks. Father Phocas made frequent visits to Perth as some of his family settled and married here. His son Alex Phocas would go on to become a foundation committee member of the Hellenic Club Association (Union) of Western Australia in 1918 and President and prominent member of the Hellenic Community during the 1920s.
In 1905 Father Kantopoulos arranged for land at the Karrakatta Cemetery to be set aside as Greek Orthodox section and subsequently consecrated the area.
1911 saw the arrival of the first resident priest in Perth, his name was Rev. Father Chrysanthos Constantinidis who came from the Greek island of Hydra. For the local Greek population his arrival was seen as a very significant event. Not only did it signify a “coming of age” and that the Perth Greek Community was of some importance on a national scale, having a resident priest before Adelaide or Brisbane, but the mere presence of a permanent local priest was regarded as a blessing.
During this time the Commonwealth Census of 1911 identified 323 males and 12 females of Greek Orthodox faith residing in Western Australia. Greeks were scattered from the Kimberley to Albany. After Perth and Fremantle, the Coolgardie region, notably Kalgoorlie, had the next biggest concentration of Greeks with 75.
Father Constantinidis left Perth during 1913 and was succeeded by Rev. Father Germanos Illiou (Heliou) who arrived in Perth from the Greek island of Mytilini. A year prior to his arrival the Castellorizian Association of Western Australia was formed. This organisation was to play a major role in the building of the first Greek hall and church in Western Australia.
The Rev. Father Illiou gave the Greek families of Perth much needed leadership and guidance in spiritual affairs. He also conducted the first Greek school, teaching the language and religion.
By 1915 religious services were being conducted at various venues in Perth such as the Hibernian Hall along Murray Street, and more often, at the Assembly Hall in Pier Street. This was due to the work of the Castellorizian Association who liaised with the Presbyterian and Anglican Churches to let their premises for religious services making Father Illiou’s religious tasks easier.
Though some degree of religious and cultural fulfilment could be found in Perth and Fremantle by the Greek population, in the years just prior to and during World War I, economic conditions were not always favourable. Considerable anti-Greek sentiment could be found in the workplace, at social events and in the media. These resentments culminated in the anti-Greek riots of Kalgoorlie during December 1916. As a result, many Greeks left Kalgoorlie to seek their fortune throughout Western Australia. Most busied themselves at general labouring mining, timber cutting, fishing, but more often in fruit shops, the catering and restaurant trades. The bulk of the Greek immigrants chose to remain in Perth and Fremantle, where they became part of the mainstream of the Greek Community. Thus the community did manage to gain in numbers, stability and finance.
1918 saw the formation of the Hellenic Association of Western Australia which catered for the social needs of Greek males. The Hellenic Association co-operated with the Castellorizian Association in their quest for the eventual building of a hall and church.
By the early 1920s mobility amongst males in search of work was gradually declining. The days of the lone male adventurer seeking a quick fortune were over. Wives, mothers, sisters and sweethearts were being brought out to Western Australia to stay with their make companions or relatives.
During 1922 the Castellorizian Association took the momentous step of purchasing land to be eventually used as the site for the construction of the Greek Orthodox Church. The property purchased, on the 28th March 1922, was Perth Town Lot Y137, Lots 6 and 7 on plan 1067 along Parker Street. (The value of the land in 1925 was £625). 1923 saw the formation of the Hellenic Community of Western Australia, the interim President being Alex Phocas. This organisation took over the pan-Hellenic responsibilities from the Castellorizian Association and its primary concern became that of building an Orthodox church in Perth.
To make possible the purchase of vacant land in Parker Street and then help finance the construction of a hall and church, many fundraising activities were organised. Concerts, bazaars, actions and afternoon teas were conducted to collect funds. The women of the Greek community also played a significant role in these activities. English and Australian women married to Greek men liaised with the Greek community to form the Hellenic Women’s Association. People such as Mrs Edith Gravas and Mrs Pearl Michelides with their command of the English language and experience in fund-raising, did a substantial amount of the work in those early years.
Since 1902 the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia had been assisted by the Church of Greece. However, in 1924 the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople took charge of the Greek Churches in Australia. As a result, during March 1924, the first Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand arived in Australia. His name was Christopher Knetes, born on the Greek island of Samos. He was a graduate from Chalkis Theological College and had served in Constantinople.
On the 24th July 1924 Metropolitis Knetes conducted the ceremony of blessing the foundation stone of the church. The honour of laying the foundation stone was given to Mrs. J. Michelides and Mrs. T. Kalafatas, two respected elders of the community.
Another stone was later placed near the entrance of the church symbolising the donation of the land by the Castellorizian Association of Western Australia to the Hellenic Community. This transfer of land took place during June 1925 by which time the Hellenic Hall had been completed. The Hellenic Community had decided to build a hall before a church as this was a more financially attainable goal at the time. Furthermore, the hall could serve as a religious venue as well as allow for social functions from which funds could be gathered and used to finance a suitable church building.
The fundraising activities and voluntary donations of sixpence per family had continued after 1922 and helped to finance the construction of the Hellenic Hall. At last the members of Perth’s Greek community had their own site in which to conduct their church services, Greek School and social activities; until the building of the church became a reality.
During the years between 1925 and 1936 the Hellenic Community continued its fundraising activities to collect money to pay off its debt to the E.S. & A. Bank for the Hellenic Hall. Another key figure in the money making ventures of the Hellenic Community was John Aris. Aris organised concerts throughout the 1920s and 1930s to raise funds so that a church could be constructed. He adapted his flair for music and theatre to fund raising and used the Hellenic Hall to hold concerts. The admission price from these performances went to the Hellenic Community. Volunteers recited poetry or music, performed dances or skits, and so on to entertain Perth’s Greek population.
The Hellenic Community received a set-back in its plans for the construction of the church during 1929 as the world economic depression hit Western Australia. Unemployment rose rapidly and Greeks suffered along with everyone else. Proprietors and labourers experienced hardships as incomes fell along with the availability of work. Patronage of Hellenic Community functions slipped, as did monies raised through various fundraising ventures. Concerts became the most popular and regular social events during the depression years, as they provided people with the opportunity to escape from the economic difficulties and drudgery that they faced.
1930 saw the formation of another Greek Association which catered for those from Northern Greece, “The Megas Alexandros”, Greek Macedonian Alexander the Great Association. Under the presidency of Zissis Nolidis it too joined in the quest for the building of a church with the other Associations of that time. By the early 1930s the area around Parker Street had a definite Greek atmosphere about it. Greek families were either relocating in the vicinity of the hall or moving nearby for the first time. Aberdeen, Francis, James, Lake, Newcastle and Pier Streets, which in 1923 had only a handful of Greek residents, were by 1936 swamped with Greek residents. The W.A. Postal Directory for 1935-36, a year before the consecration of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helene, illustrates this fact. Along Aberdeen Street for example, there were 9 Greek families in residence, including Reverend Manessis, whereas 12 years earlier no Greeks were recorded as living there. Lake Street was comprised of 30 Greek families in 1936, while in 1923 only 6 families abided along this street. The bulk of the residents were near either the Newcastle, Aberdeen or Francis Street intersections, not too far from Parker Street.
By 1934, with the worst of the depression over, economic stability returned to Western Australia and fundraising activities again became the order of the day for the Hellenic Community. The Hellenic Women’s Association was particularly active during the mid-1930s. The Hellenic Community was also successful in pooling together the resources of the various Greek bodies and fraternities to assist in a final drive to raise monies for the church. Notably the Castellorizian Association and its membership endeavoured as much as possible to assist the Hellenic Community. The sixpence levy was re-introduced by the Castellorizian Association once again during the mid 1930s. Members of the Greek community pledged sixpence a week from their earnings to go towards a fund aimed at helping the Hellenic Community finance the construction of a church. An honour group of six to ten collectors were organised to go around to the homes of Greeks to collect their donations. This system of collecting pledges in Perth and Fremantle lasted until the Second World War, by which time the church had not only been built but, by 1942, had been paid for.
In late 1935, tentative measures were made about approaching various architectural firms to have designs for a church drawn up. Progress however, was rather slow. During December 1935 Metropolitis Timotheos was in Perth, and he felt that the Hellenic Community needed prodding. He called on the Hellenic Community to take some affirmative action about constructing a church. His disappointment at the rate of progress being made by the Hellenic Community prompted some more decisive action from its executive. On the 22nd of December 1935, an extra-ordinary general meeting was held to discuss the issue of building a church and the costs involved. Peter Michelides as President spoke first. He informed those present that a loan for £2,500 could be obtained from the E.S. & A. Bank. Another £1,000 needed to be collected from donations and with the £1,000 held by the Hellenic Community, a Church valued at some £4,500 could be constructed.
On 30th December 1935, the Hellenic Community commissioned the architectural firm of Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown to draw up plans for the Church. The church was to be of a Byzantine style, based on the Saints Constantine and Helene Church on the island of Kastellorizo as the Hellenic Community had requested. After a meeting between Harold Boas and the executive of the Hellenic Community, namely P. Michelides (President), N. Papastatis (Vice-President), L. Mandalis (Secretary), and J. Zimbulis (Treasurer), the design was approved, the contract signed and the architects given the go-ahead to build the church. The builder who constructed the church was F. J. Deacon & Co. The work began during January 1936.
The Hellenic Community had decided that differentiating status be bestowed upon donors, according to the amounts given. Donors, great donors, benefactors and great benefactors were the titles allocated to those people donating funds for the construction of the church. It was hoped that the levels of distinction, with their eventual public acknowledgment on an honour board, and the Metropolitan’s plea, would result in a flood of money to supplement the funds being gathered through other means, so as to make up at least the extra £1,000 needed by the Hellenic Community. A meeting in February 1936 recorded that donations for the church were forthcoming at a pleasing rate. Metropolotis Timotheos left Perth in mid-January after having ensured that the fundraising efforts and donations of the Hellenic Community and its members did not lose their impetus. He visited various Greek communities through out the State, accompanied by P. Michelides, to rally them behind the efforts of Perth’s Hellenic Community. Bunbury, Manjimup, Donnybrook, Pemberton and Bridgetown were all visited and from each town’s Greek population they managed to collect substantial donations. To continue the drive for funds, Metropolitis Timotheos stopped off at Kalgoorlie while on his return trip to Sydney. Here the local Greeks, whom he had impressed and won over after the Kalgoorlie race riots of 1934, willingly donated money for the Hellenic Community cause.
Hence, with the money from these various donating communities and individuals, as well as the sources that the Hellenic Community had relied on since 1923, a substantial amount was raised. By October 1936 the Hellenic Community, with the church nearly completed, was able to arrange for the loan required from the E.S. & A Bank. The Hellenic Hall and property were mortgaged on the 12th October 1936 to ensure that the loan of £2,500 was secured. For the church to become operational, problems with lighting and ecclesiastical adornings had to be solved. Because of the stained glass windows, insufficient sunlight entered the Church building and so additional electrical lighting was required. In early December 1936 this extra lighting was installed at the cost of £100. Items were now being transferred from the Hellenic Hall to the church. A local Greek artist, Vlase Zanalis, was also commissioned to paint the bare altar facade (iconostasis) with religious works and small icons. By December 1936 much of this had been accomplished and the Hellenic Hall finally had its dual role ended. Plans were then set into motion to have the church consecrated. Communications with Metropolitis Timotheos took place and a date, the 18th April 1937, was set for the ceremony. Ceremonial details were then planned and organised, invitations to dignatories posted and all other particulars attended to. By midday on Sunday 18th April 1937 the consecration ceremony for the Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helene was over. Metropolitis Timotheos, Archmandrite Illiou and Rev. Father Manessis had performed the ritual. The choir led by Mr J. Michailidis consisted of Daphne Michelidis Cleo Doscos, Thrasivalo Koutsovelis, John Aris, Stellios Salingaros, Leo Anastas, Michael and George Kakulas and Vlase Zanalis. A reception was held in the Hellenic Hall next door to celebrate the event, and to recognise the achievements of Perth’s Greek Community.
The church quickly became an integral feature of the lives of many Greek families, and a district landmark within Perth. A whole new chapter of spiritual, cultural, social and even economic development for Perth’s Greeks had now been made possible. This was, in part, what many of the pioneering Greeks had wanted when they first called on their compatriots to unite together to form an organisation that would allow for the construction of a Greek Orthodox Church.
For the many people who worked very hard and who struggled to carve out a future for themselves , their families, and prospective descendants, the building of a church was a major achievement. In a new and often uncompromising society, there emerged a unique structure, which embodied and symbolised (as it still does), not only our religious beliefs and customs, but our heritage and national identity. That building was the church of Saints Constantine and Helene.
* On the 21st May 1972 the Church was proclaimed a Cathedral.
*The Community has had fourteen Presidents and numerous Committees of Management.
1923 Alexander Phocas (interim/caretaker President)
1923-25 Peter Michelides
1925-26 Alexander Phocas
1926-41 Peter Michelides
1941-47 Angelo Silverton (Ayeropoulos)
1947-58 George P Kailis
1958-62 John Aris
1962-70 Arthur Litis
1970-77 George E Palassis
1977-78 Spiro N Begos
1978-83 Michael S Lekias
1983-85 Mark Liveris
1985-89 Michael S Lekias
1989-95 Atha Limnios
1995-2005 Paul Afkos
2005-11 Evan S Kakulas
2011- current Gary Mitchell
* For further information contact J.N. Yiannakis at HCWA (08) 9328 5141.
REFERENCES
1. Hellenic Community Memoirs by John Aris.
2. International Directory of 1927.
3. Minutes of the Hellenic Community of W.A., Vol. 1. 1923-1938..
4. Perth’s Greek Community builds its own Cathedral 1910-1936 by John N. Yiannakis.
5. West Australian Newspaper.
6. Greek Orthodox Archdioces of Australia – 50th Anniversary Book 1976.
7. Megisti in the Antipodes by John N. Yiannakis