Our Journey of Faith and Fellowship
For more than a hundred years, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension has stood as a spiritual and cultural landmark in Oakland — a community built by faith, preserved by devotion, and inspired by the generations who continue to call it home.
Early Community
Greek immigrants began settling in Oakland and the surrounding East Bay as early as the 1890s, opening small businesses and establishing roots that would blossom into a thriving community.
In the early days, before a local parish existed, Orthodox Christians crossed the bay by ferry to attend services in San Francisco or invited priests to travel eastward to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.
The first organized Orthodox presence in the Bay Area began in 1867 with the incorporation of the “Greek Russian Slavonian Orthodox Eastern Church and Benevolent Society” in San Francisco. Soon after, in 1872, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity was established there under imperial patronage.
By 1905, with the growing number of Greek settlers in the Bay Area, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity was founded in San Francisco — the first permanent Greek Orthodox parish on the West Coast.
By 1914, Greek, Syrian, and Lebanese families in Oakland were gathering in rented halls for services conducted by priests who came across the bay. On February 16, 1917, The Hellenic Community of Oakland and Vicinity was officially chartered by the State of California.
The First Church: The Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption (Dormition)
In 1921, just four years after its chartering, Oakland’s first Greek Orthodox church — and the first in the entire East Bay — was dedicated to the Koimisis (the Dormition of the Mother of God). More than 250 faithful attended the joyful dedication on May 21, 1921.
As the community flourished, the congregation eventually outgrew its original downtown building. In 1960, the property was sold and the parish embarked on building a new church in the Oakland hills, dedicated to the Analypsis — the Ascension of Our Savior.
Preserving Our Roots: The Ascension Historical Society
When the original church was slated for demolition in 1976 to make way for an interstate highway, a small but determined group of parishioners stepped in to preserve this piece of history. Their efforts led to the building being listed on both the U.S. National Register and the California State Register of Historic Landmarks.
Thanks to their dedication — and with the help of the California Transportation Commission — the structure was relocated and saved from destruction. Today, the original church still stands in Oakland, a living memorial to the pioneers who built our community and a monument to their enduring faith.
The New Church: Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension
The doors of the new Church of the Ascension opened on December 11, 1960. The building is celebrated for its architectural design — a thoughtful harmony of modern lines and Byzantine tradition.
An education building, completed at the same time, continues to serve the community’s spiritual and educational needs. In 1976, the addition of our community center expanded the parish’s ability to host gatherings and fellowship.
In 1971, Reverend Father Thomas J. Paris arrived at Ascension and began what would become more than five decades of devoted service to the parish. During his tenure, the community experienced significant spiritual and institutional growth. Under his leadership, Ascension was elevated to Cathedral status in February 1992. The parish retired its mortgage, expanded its campus with the addition of the Parking Pavilion (completed in 2007), and laid plans for the Koimisis Chapel.
Fr. Tom’s ministry emphasized spiritual renewal, youth formation, sacred music, and active lay involvement, helping to cultivate a vibrant parish life rooted in
faith, fellowship, and service.
Rev. Father Thomas J. Paris
1935 - 2021
May his Memory be Eternal!
A Living Legacy
For over a century, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension has nurtured the faith, heritage, and culture of its people. Many of today’s parishioners are descendants of the original families who helped found the community, while countless others have found their spiritual home here through conversion or fellowship.
Now more than 100 years strong, Ascension remains a vibrant, welcoming, and diverse community — continuing the legacy of faith, service, and unity that began many generations ago.