Early 20th century marks growth of Greek churches

The first two Greek Orthodox churches were established in Youngstown.
CAMPBELL -- The year 1900 marked the beginning of accelerated growth in the number of Greeks and their churches in the United States. In 1906, there were 29 Greek churches, by 1916, the number had grown to 59 and by 1926, there were 153 churches nationwide.
Youngstown was no exception to this trend.
Greek immigrants were settling here, drawn by the plentiful job opportunities in the steel mills. In the Greek Orthodox community there was desire to establish a church, but politics in the homeland remained influential here.
Greek politics identified two rival parties: the Royalists who supported the King of Greece, and the Venizelists, named after liberal politician, Eleftherios Venizelos.
Two churches in Youngstown -- St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church -- were established to satisfy followers of the two parties. But the idea for a church in Campbell persisted.
Brief history
In a parish history, "This is Our Story," by Dr. George N. Spirtos, first church council president, he wrote about a group of women led by Mary Spirtos who decided to collect a quarter from the 165 Greek Orthodox women in the community. The effort, started in 1937, paid off when the group raised $2,300 and also bought land for $1,500 in 1953.
Groundbreaking took place Oct. 26, 1954. The fund-raising committee petitioned the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese for a charter that was granted in 1954. The first Divine Liturgy was Nov. 13, 1955, and the consecration was Nov. 11, 1956.
By the time of the consecration, the church had paid off its mortgage and was free of debt. In the history, Spirtos noted that the group started out with $26,000 to build a $59,000 church. The people sponsored dances and picnics, presented plays, sponsored a seven-day bazaar, sold food at the Canfield Fair, raffled a car and published a dedication day book.
Spirtos noted the "dedication and zeal of those who took on the responsibility for building the church from 1953 to '56."
The naming of the church proved to a be unifying force in the Greek community, whose members hailed from the Aegean Islands of Simi and Kalymnos, the island of Cyprus and the mainland. The groups agreed on the patron saint, Archangel Michael.
The Vindicator covered the door-opening ceremony and published a story and photographs and reported that 600 people attended the celebratory banquet. There also was a parade to celebrate the new church.
XInformation from a church history by the Rev. Steve Denas, pastor of Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church.