Former Syrian Churches on Hudson Street

November 3, 2008 by Chinatown Blogger.

 
Current photo of Hudson Street. Beyond the wall is the Albany Street/Surface Road ramp to I-93 and I-90.

The information in this post was graciously given to this site by Mitrophan Chin, a Chinese parishioner researching on the history of churches. This was the email (edited) sent by Mitrophan:

“I found out that there used to be Orthodox churches  on Hudson St… and they have since been relocated elsewhere after the Chinese immigrants took over the Syrian immigrant communities on that street. For the interest of your readers, here are their current location and websites, if you’re interested in creating some historical page on what is today is known as the Chinatown Gateway before any highway construction was done in the area… I myself am a Chinese parishioner of St Mary’s in Cambridge, MA and i frequently come to Chinatown for dimsum and visits of in-laws. -Mitrophan Chin”

The Chinatown/South Cove neighborhood was at one time an area of tidal flats. Different immigrant groups had settled in the area including the Irish, Jews, and Syrians. The center for the Irish community was the St. James Church on Albany Street and which later moved to Harrison Avenue. In the 1950s, the east side of Hudson Street was demolished to make way for highways.

Here are excerpts taken from the text of each church’s website.  Many thanks Mitrophan for sending the links:

1) St. George Syrian Orthodox, 32 Hudson, now at 55 Emmonsdale Road, West Roxbury

Photo taken from www.stgeorgeofboston.org

Founded in 1900, Father George Maloof of Deir el Ghazelle arrived in Boston and established the Chapel of St. George in his home at 6 Oxford Street. As the Orthodox population increased, the community moved to a larger facility at 38 Edinboro Street and then to 32 Hudson Street.

2) St. John of Damascus, Syrian Orthodox, 68 Hudson now at 300 West St., Dedham

Photo taken from www.stjohnd.org

The History of the Church of St. John of Damascus, in the United States dates back to the early 1900s. Our forbears, who emigrated to the United States from the Middle East, particularly from Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon brought with them the faith of their heritage. The migration, which was motivated in the aftermath of the Turkish persecutions, brought these freedom loving people to the shores of America. The majority of those who landed in Massachusetts settled in the South End of Boston, and were of the Eastern Orthodox faith.

These pilgrims had many trials and tribulations which they had to overcome, one of which was the language barrier. Still, the dire need for a Church facility was a primary focus of this community, and in 1914, the Society of St. John of Damascus purchased its first piece of real estate, a house on 68 Hudson Street in Boston. The facility on Hudson Street housed the Pastor, Father Solomon Faineny and his family on the first floor, and the basement was fashioned into a church for worship.

3) St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Syrian Orthodox Antiochian Church  Hudson near Oak St. now at 8 Inman St, Cambridge

The Church of St. Mary’s came into existence in 1928. It was founded by a group of families who had been parishioners of the Church of St. John of Damascus. This energetic group of families banded together to further the growth of the Orthodox Faith. These faithful and courageous individuals formed and organized the Antiochian Society of St. Mary’s Church, constituted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The first assemblage of the founders was held at the Greek Orthodox Church on Union Park Street, Boston. It was learned that the City of Boston had recently closed a school building at 119 Hudson Street, Boston, and that the city was seeking a buyer. Arrangements were made shortly thereafter to purchase the building, and to renovate the structure to serve as a Church.

Posted in WORD ON THE STREET | Print | No Comments »