Greek Orthodox Church Building To Go On Auction Block

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Members of Holy Trinity Church say the oldest Greek Orthodox church congregation in the Midwest is about to lose its home because the building is up for auction in a week.

Holy Trinity was founded in 1897, and the current building, in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood, is about 60 years old.

A decade ago, a decision to move the church school to the North Shore and take out a loan has now left the church with nearly $8 million to pay off. If the debt isn’t paid, the property near Diversey and Austin is up for grabs.

"The church will be put to auction and it'll go to the highest bidder. And I think there are some local developers who are already kind of chomping at the bit to knock it down,” said longtime church member Charlie Vlahogiannis.

“There's going to be a vacuum left in the city where Greeks can't look to, where we can see a tangible version of our historic legacy."

Vlahogiannis and others are trying to save the church.

The property auction is set for Dec. 14. A Go Fund Me page has been set up.