The Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was founded in 1930 by 35 native-born Greeks. For more than 75 years, the church has served Orthodox Christians throughout the West Texas area.

            In addition those who reside in San Angelo, parishioners also hail from Abilene, Christoval, Mertzon, Midland, Odessa and Sonora and also include any Eastern Orthodox Christians who are stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base.

Organized as the Platon Society, the native Greeks received a charter for the Hellenic Orthodox Church and the Hellenic Educational Society Nov. 28, 1932. In November of 2007, the parish will celebrate 75 years since that charter.

At one time the parish served the entire western half of Texas as it was the only parish west of the various parishes located in the Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston areas. Now there are parishes in El Paso and Amarillo.

            In the early 1950s and 1960s, the Lubbock, Amarillo and El Paso communities were serviced by the priest of Assumption Church until priests were assigned to these distant parishes and St. John the Podromos Greek Orthodox Church in Amarillo and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in El Paso were founded.

Our current minister, Rev. Father James Hademenos was born in Houston, Texas and graduated from John Reagan High School.  Having been ordained as a priest with a lay profession in 1988, Rev. Hademenos has also served with distinction as dean and professor at the School of Education, Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas.

He served in the US Navy and taught physics in India during a 1967 Summer NSF Institute.

Fr. Hademenos has directed ten (10) international programs, visiting Greece, England, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland, Scotland, and Wales.

Priests who have served our community and the West Texas area faithfully were Rev. Hadjiantoni, Rev. Spiliaros, Rev. Zekakis, Rev. Sakellariou, Rev. Papapostolou, the Very Rev. Nicolopoulos and the Very Rev. Zoys.

            While the parish currently holds services in their building at 801 Montecito, during the first three years the members worshipped without a home. Services were held on the second floor of the old City Café on S. Chadbourne St.

            From 1993 to 1937, the members were given use of the old Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 307 W. Harris. A fire partially destroyed the building in 1938. It was purchased by the Greek church and moved to newly-purchased property in the Santa Rita section at W. Ave. G and Sam streets and completely renovated. The streets later were renamed by the city and the location became Kenwood and Montecito.

            The church building is more than 100 years old, making it the oldest church building in San Angelo. Throughout the years, a number of improvements have been made to include expanding the building of an adjoining fellowship hall and a complete renovation of the sanctuary. Most recently, bathrooms were renovated and made handicap-accessible, front doors and flooring were replaced, and a new roof was installed.

Assumption Church was consecrated March 24-25, 1990, by Bishop Kallistos of Zelon from Denver, Colo. He was assisted by the Rev. Nicholas Triantafilou of Austin, the Rev. Spyridon Zoys, the Rev. James Hademenos, who is the current parish priest, and Deacon Nicholas Samaras of Denver.