The future of one of the oldest Greek Orthodox churches in the United States has now become clear, as a bankruptcy court upheld, on Tuesday, the sale of the Holy Trinity Hellenic Orthodox Church in Chicago to the non-denominational religious organization “Universal Life Church” for $ 2.5 million.
The people in charge of the Holy Trinity Church now have 75 days to evacuate the building.
The future of the church was uncertain after a series of financial problems arose, bringing it to the brink of a permanent suspension of operation. Church officials said the bank rejected their loan application, after failing to obtain $ 1.6 million as security.
The Holy Trinity avoided the suspension of its operation at the end of last year, after a generous anonymous donation, but then a money issue came up and had to be put up for sale again.
The Holy Trinity Church is the second oldest Greek Orthodox Church in the United States and the oldest in the Midwestern United States.
Church officials now have about two months to find a new roof, possibly a temporary one, and a place to store church supplies and the icons.
Source: The National Herald