Today we’d like to introduce you to Fr. Antony Hughes.
Please tell us where this story begins.
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.
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.
The name of St. Mary was selected because of the closeness and affinity that the parish felt to Mary, the Mother of our Lord. The years following the Second World War saw continued growth at St. Mary’s. It soon became apparent to the Board of Directors and parishioners that the building on Hudson Street was inadequate for the increasing number of churchgoers. The Parish was extremely fortunate once again in locating a suitable building, the Universalist Church at 8 Inman Street in Cambridge. Arrangements to purchase it were soon finalized. The move to Inman Street was a dramatic one. It meant a complete change from what had been familiar in Boston, and becoming oriented to the environs of Cambridge.
Throughout the early years of our parish, the Liturgy was celebrated almost entirely in the Arabic language. The early parishioners appreciated the use of Arabic at that time since it was their mother tongue. One evening, during the Easter season of 1945, an Orthodox Priest who had been ordained by the Russian Bishop, was visiting our Church. This young priest made an immediate, fine impression on the Parish of St. Mary’s. His name was Father John vonHolzhausen. Soon thereafter he was asked to serve as assistant to Fr. Deebeh. His task was to institute the usage of English in the Liturgy and services of the parish. Immediately, more and more of the young people started to attend. Later, Fr. Deebeh was transferred and Fr. John became the Parish Priest. He was appointed and officially installed by His Eminence, Archbishop Samuel David. Fr. John was an individual who commanded authority and great respect. His new task was to guide our growing parish in its spiritual development. Not only did Fr. John serve the Church devotedly for more than a quarter of a century, but also his Khouria, Evelyn, dedicated her life to St. Mary’s. She served in the capacity of Sunday School Superintendent. Her method of teaching, along with her excellent curriculum, soon became a model for the Toledo Archdiocese.
The years following the Second World War saw continued growth at St. Mary’s. It soon became apparent to the Board of Directors and parishioners that the building on Hudson Street was inadequate for the increasing number of churchgoers. The Parish was extremely fortunate once again in locating a suitable building, the Universalist Church at 8 Inman Street in Cambridge. Arrangements to purchase it were soon finalized. The move to Inman Street was a dramatic one. It meant a complete change from what had been familiar in Boston, and becoming oriented to the environs of Cambridge.
The present Church was formally dedicated by their Eminences, Metropolitan Anthony Bashir and Archbishop Samuel David in 1954. At this service, the Church was filled to capacity by the many Orthodox Faithful of Boston and Cambridge, and various other towns and cities in the region. They came to witness this special event in the life of St. Mary’s Parish.
The building that St. Mary’s purchased is an edifice of tremendous historic background. It contains, among other notable features, beautiful stained-glass windows which date back to the pre-Civil War era. These splendid windows, along with the beautifully curved oak pews, marvelous architecture, and wrought-iron balcony railings all make St. Mary’s Church an outstanding monument of classic beauty. The iconostasis was transferred from Boston and installed in the Cambridge Church. The work was performed by diligent and faithful members of the Parish. They lovingly and devotedly worked to make many needed repairs. The result is a work of beauty and magnificence befitting the House of God.
During the two decades since the move to Cambridge, the Parish has grown constantly. The various Boards of Directors and Parish Councils have directed the energies and ambitions, according to the Orthodox Faith, to extend the religious atmosphere of the Church.
In 1993 Fr. Antony Hughes became the Pastor of St. Mary’s. Fr. Alexis had been called to serve a parish in Florida (which has since been blessed by the Holy Spirit in its growth and expansion under his pastorate). Fr. Antony and Khouria Carol, and their two sons, Alexander and Gregory, have been a blessing to St. Mary’s. Following in the line of priests who were musically gifted, Fr. Antony’s beautiful tenor voice enriches all of our services. His natural intellectual gifts have proven useful in spreading the Orthodox Faith to the surrounding campuses of MIT and Harvard. St. Mary’s has become a truly integrated parish: the founding Arabic families continue to be active in the life and governance of our parish, but there are now numerous converts to Holy Orthodoxy from many backgrounds, both Protestant and Roman Catholic and non-Christian, as well as members from numerous other Orthodox jurisdictions. St. Mary’s is also blessed to have become an important parish for the immigrant Eritrean and Ethiopian communities of Boston.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No road is entirely smooth. The parish struggled financially in its early years at the location in Cambridge, The dedication of the Syrian/Lebanese families and their selflessness and sacrifice kept the doors open against some great odds. That changed over the years.
At the close of the 1960’s, near the end of Fr. John’s pastorate, St. Mary’s Church was asked to vote on joining the Antiochian Archdiocese of New York. Up to this time, the Church had been part of the Toledo Archdiocese, under the leadership of Archbishop Samuel David, and then Archbishop Michael Shaheen. In 1970, the decision was finally made to join the New York Archdiocese. This action was based on a hope that a complete future union of the two Antiochian Archdioceses in America would follow. The change was the cause of some controversy in the parish. Not everyone was in agreement. The vote to join the New York Archdiocese was accepted without negative consequences and the prediction of union between the two Archdioceses came true.
Now St. Mary’s is growing and prosperous. For a period of time a steady stream of priests came and went, hurting the continuity of community life. Fr. Antony has been at the parish since 1993, the longest serving priest in St. Mary’s history after the much loved Archimandrite John VonHoltzhausen who served from 1945 to 1971 and under whose leadership English was introduced as the primary liturgical language. He was a man of many talents and vision. During the tenure of Fr. Gregory Phelan (1981-1989) the parish grew in diversity and its chanting program was given new direction and dynamism. The continuity of longer-serving priests, along with very dedicated parishioners who kept the parish alive during the hard times, helped the parish attain its current positive status. The transition from an Arabic-speaking community comprised largely of Syrian Orthodox Christians to the Pan-Orthodox, English-speaking community had its challenges, of course. Remarkably, the parish navigated this change with relatively few problems
St. Mary Orthodox Church – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
St. Mary’s is known for its inclusiveness and hospitality, beautiful worship with an excellent choir and chanters, a progressive and open, welcoming spirit, a growing sense of social responsibility and community service, a large number of converts, young couples with children, college students, a Pan-Orthodox congregation including some 20 or more ethnicities, the use of the English language, a dynamic Prison Ministry, and a variety of other ministries headed by parish leaders and volunteers. We are rightly proud and very grateful for what we have accomplished with the help of God as an Orthodox community dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around us through word and compassion.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
The list of credits for the success of St. Mary’s is far too long to list and includes the Syrian founders who sacrificed their lives, talents and money to keep the parish viable and strong. It also includes all the priests and deacons who served in the parish even for a short period of time. The leadership of the community resides in the Parish Council and in the presidents and members of the Auxiliaries: the Women’s Club, SOYO (teens), the Hospitality group, the choir, chanters, acolytes, and liturgical ministry groups.
Contact Info:
- Address: St. Mary Orthodox Church
8 Inman St.
Cambridge, MA 02139 - Website: stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
- Phone: 617-547-1234
- Email: secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMaryCambridge
Image Credit:
Eric Ayoub
Jeff Wasilko
Nick Bezreh
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