Around 200 members of the Greek Orthodox community in Canberra gathered on Sunday, March 15 for an information session outlining a significant proposal that could shape the future of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at Kingston.
The meeting, organised by the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra and District (GOCCC), focused on a proposed transfer of the church land to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA), with community members set to ultimately decide the outcome through a formal vote.
The session brought together clergy, community leadership and Archdiocesan representation, including parish priest Fr Petros Kipouros and His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Canberra, reflecting the importance of the discussion for the local faithful.
A proposal for the future of the Church
At the centre of the discussion was a proposal that would see the St Nicholas Church land transferred to the Archdiocese, with the aim of securing the long-term future of the parish and strengthening its place within the canonical structure of the Church in Australia.
Under the proposal, St Nicholas would be elevated to the status of a Cathedral — a move described as both symbolic and practical, recognising its role in the nation’s capital and the recent establishment of the Diocese of Canberra under Bishop Athenagoras.
The Archdiocese has also indicated it would assist the community in pursuing Federal Government funding to support the construction of a new church hall on the site.
What the community is being asked to decide
Members will ultimately be asked to vote on whether to approve the transfer of the St Nicholas Church land to the Archdiocese, a decision that will directly affect governance, ownership and the long-term management of the site.
While an initial vote had been tentatively discussed, organisers confirmed to The Greek Herald that no formal date has yet been set, with further consultation required before proceeding.
According to presentation materials, a General Meeting for members is currently proposed for May, with a further information session scheduled for April to address outstanding questions.
Land ownership and structure
The proposal outlines a restructuring of land ownership within the precinct.
Currently, the GOCCC owns the church land and a carpark, while St Basil’s holds the adjacent aged care site.
If approved, the church land — including the site earmarked for a future hall — would be transferred to the Archdiocese, while the GOCCC would retain ownership of the carpark. The aged care land would remain under St Basil’s and is considered a separate matter.
Safeguards and protections
Community members were told that a series of legal protections would be built into any agreement to safeguard the church’s future.
These include a covenant preventing the Archdiocese from selling, mortgaging or otherwise encumbering the land, as well as guarantees that the site must remain a Greek Orthodox church in perpetuity.
Importantly, provisions would require the land to revert to the GOCCC at no or nominal cost if the Archdiocese were ever unable or unwilling to operate the church.
The proposal also ensures that the community retains long-term control over any new hall built on the site.
Governance changes
If the transfer proceeds, a new Parish Committee appointed by the Archbishop would oversee church operations, working alongside the parish priest and including representation from the current GOCCC committee.
At the same time, the GOCCC would remain active — continuing to manage broader community activities such as the Greek School, cultural initiatives, government engagement and its relationship with the Hellenic Club.
The organisation would also be rebranded as the Greek Orthodox Community of Canberra (GOCC).
Community response and concerns
The information session was described as positive and well attended, with strong engagement from community members.
However, attendees raised a number of questions, particularly around the purpose and benefits of the transfer, how the process would be implemented, and how funding for a new church hall would be secured.
Organisers acknowledged these concerns and committed to providing further detail at the next session.
Despite the questions, early sentiment appeared cautiously supportive.
“The majority of people were in agreement for the transfer, but required further information,” one organiser said following the meeting.
Next steps
A second information session is expected to take place in mid to late April, where additional details will be presented and community concerns addressed.
A final vote will be scheduled once members are satisfied they have sufficient information to make an informed decision.
If approved, the transfer would trigger legal processes, governance changes and the elevation of St Nicholas to Cathedral status.
If rejected, current ownership and governance arrangements would remain in place, and the community would need to independently fund any future development, including a proposed church hall.
