Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England
Also known as: Church of the Evangelismos (Annunciation)
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Parker and Ruggles Streets in Boston's Mission Hill area, this Greek Orthodox cathedral was designed in 1923 by Worcester architect Hachadoor S. Demoorjian for the Hellenic Association of Boston. Built in 1923-1924 of buff brick with limestone trim, it has a square, centralized plan, a central copper dome, and four corner towers with smaller domes. A portico of paired Ionic columns marks the Parker Street front. The design blends Classical and Byzantine ideas, as the parish wanted a landmark for the city. Inside, the dome paintings of 1927 are by Evangelos Ionnides, and stained glass by Charles J. Connick dates from 1936, with Ralph Adams Cram as interior consultant. It served as the seat of the first Bishop of Boston and as mother church of New England's Greek parishes. It is recognized for its ties to Greek immigration and for its architecture and art.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it reflects Greek immigration to the United States between 1890 and 1910 and is Boston's only work by the Worcester architect Demoorjian. It combines Classical and Byzantine design in one building. Its interior is a collaboration among Ralph Adams Cram, Kenneth Conant and Charles J. Connick. It meets criteria A and C at the local level.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88000957, listed June 30, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 520 Parker St., Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | June 30, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000957 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-1937 |
| Architect / builder | Hachadoor Demoorjian; Ralph Adams Cram; Charles J. Connick; Wilbur H. Burnham (architect/builder field); built by J.R. Worcester and Co. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival; Other: Byzantine (described in the text as Neo-Renaissance) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, European, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions are listed as religious structure, social meeting hall and church school. The text notes the altar murals were being cleaned at the time of the nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.33652, -71.09359 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88000957.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4769774
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.