ST. GREGORIOS, SACRED GROUND
സെന്റ് ഗ്രീഗോറിയോസ് പാവന നിലയം
OUR NEW CHURCH

WAYS TO GIVE TO

 [Malayalam version available]

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CHECK
Please make the check payable to "St. Gregorios M. O. Church."
Address: 175 Cherry Lane, Floral Park, NY 11001.
A SPIRITUAL HOME AT THE CENTER OF OUR COMMUNITY

Why a new church is needed — and how it will make a difference?

St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church, lovingly known as Cherry Lane Church, has, for over three decades, been a spiritual home and gathering place for Orthodox Christians in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. What began humbly in 1992 with just a handful of families and has now grown into a vibrant parish of over 100 families, bound together by faith, tradition, and shared prayer.

Providentially situated in New Hyde Park, New York, our parish stands at the heart of a region widely recognized by South Asians as a center for Malayalees, specifically Indian Christians. Nearly 70% of our congregation lives within a five-mile radius of the church. Like a hearth placed at the center of a home, Cherry Lane Church has become a natural place of warmth, gathering, and spiritual renewal.

This church project is not merely about bricks and mortar. It is about making room for prayer, for people, and for the future. By remaining rooted where God has already planted us, we seek to build a church that will continue to serve as a beacon of Orthodox faith. Our church will be faithful to it’s heritage, responsive to it’s community, and open to all who seek Christ.

Here are some of the key reasons why we are building:

A CENTRAL AND INTENTIONAL LOCATION

We have intentionally chosen to build in our current location, recognizing it as central not only geographically, but pastorally. Situated on the border of New York City and conveniently close to major hospitals, our church remains accessible to families, the elderly, and those in times of medical need. While relocating further east on Long Island was an option, doing so would have distanced the church from the very people it exists to serve. Remaining rooted here affirms a simple truth: the Church must dwell among her people, not at the margins and not just for the wealthy.

A VISIBLE CENTER FOR EVANGELISM AND WITNESS

Cherry Lane Church is located between Hillside Avenue and Jericho Turnpike, in a safe residential neighborhood marked by steady vehicular and foot traffic. This visibility has quietly transformed the parish into a spiritual center. It is not uncommon for visitors—including non-Christians—to step inside simply to learn about Orthodox Christianity. Even beyond the walls of the church, members of the wider community can be seen praying at the outdoor shrines at all hours of the day and night. Like a lamp that burns without announcement, the church already bears witness. A new building will allow that light to shine more clearly and hospitably.

SPACE TO WELCOME, SERVE, AND GROW

At present, our parish is severely space-limited. Sunday services are often so crowded that worshippers spill out onto the street. While this is a visible sign of vitality, it is not a sustainable or welcoming situation. Tragically, some families have drifted away simply because there is no room. A new church will allow us not only to retain our faithful, but to welcome new members with dignity, safety, and joy.

A SACRED TRUST: THE HOLY RELICS OF ST. GREGORIOS

Our parish is uniquely blessed to house the actual vestments worn by St. Gregorios, preserved and displayed with reverence. Faithful pilgrims from around the world have visited Cherry Lane Church to venerate these sacred relics—an extraordinary distinction that sets our parish apart. While many parishes claim to be the local Parumala Church, we don’t need to make that claim, we see it ringing true each and every day. A new church will allow these holy treasures to be honored in a space worthy of their spiritual significance, strengthening the parish’s role as a place of pilgrimage and prayer.

Newsletter 2017

A LIVING LEGACY OF MAR BARNABAS

Cherry Lane Church holds a special place in the history of the Malankara Orthodox Church in America as the spiritual home of Mar Barnabas, former Metropolitan of the American Diocese and a pivotal figure in the Church’s growth in this land.
Our parish began in the basement of the Chancery (Aramana), and even after moving to Cherry Lane, Mar Barnabas frequently attended services here, particularly on days where he his time was not allocated elsewhere. Many Malankara Orthodox Christians in New York still lovingly remember seeing him walking the streets of Queens. We cherish that he regarded our parish as his home—just as he welcomed us into his.
In this sense, Cherry Lane Church has functioned as an unofficial cathedral, not by title, but by love, memory, and spiritual gravity.


MILESTONES

What has already been completed?

By God’s grace and through careful planning, prayer, and faithful stewardship, the parish has already completed several essential steps toward the construction of a new church. These efforts reflect a deliberate and responsible approach, ensuring that the project moves forward in an orderly, transparent, and sustainable manner.

Over the past several years, the parish has progressed from initial visioning and feasibility discussions to full architectural planning and municipal approvals. The following milestones have been achieved:

ARCHITECTURAL

PLANNING

Detailed architectural plans have been completed, drawing from the sacred tradition of Orthodox church architecture while addressing present-day needs such as accessibility, safety, and parish functionality. These plans are designed to serve both the current congregation and future generations.

ZONING

APPROVALS

All required zoning approvals have been successfully obtained from the Town of North Hempstead, marking the completion of one of the most critical regulatory milestones for the project

CONTRACTOR SELECTION

PROCESS

A formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process has been conducted. The Building Committee is presently engaged in discussions with four qualified contractors, carefully evaluating experience, cost, quality, and alignment with the parish’s long-term vision.

PERMIT

APPLICATIONS

Required building permit applications have been submitted and are currently under review by the Town of North Hempstead Building Department. This review is proceeding through the standard approval process.

INITIAL FUNDRAISING AND

PARISH COMMITMENT

Initial fundraising efforts have begun, with an encouraging and prayerful response from the parish. Nearly 90% of parish families have already submitted their initial pledges, demonstrating a strong spirit of unity and shared responsibility. In addition, the parish has received generous support from friends and well-wishers beyond the immediate congregation, much of it offered spontaneously and without solicitation. This progress has been made possible through the dedicated service of parish leadership, volunteers, and professionals within the community, working in coordination with diocesan guidance and with a shared commitment to accountability and transparency. With these foundational steps now completed, the parish stands prepared to move from planning toward the next phase of this important work.