The abundance and richness of the religious communities that can be seen within Astoria today emerged steadily as European immigrants arrived at the end of the nineteenth century and into the first few decades of the twentieth century. The more recent waves of immigration in the 1980s and 1990s from other parts of the world like Latin America, Asia and the Middle East have contributed to the diversity of the religious scene in Astoria.
The Greek Presence:
For much of its history, Astoria has had the reputation of being a haven for Greek immigrants. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was the catalyst for a significant wave of Greek immigrants who settled in Astoria in the late 1960s and 70s. At its peak, Astoria had as many as 70,000 Greek residents. Though this number has decreased as Greeks have chosen to move out of Astoria, the group still has a visibly strong presence there. There are a number of prominent Greek Orthodox churches in the neighborhood that continue the Greek Orthodox tradition.
Cathedral of Saint Markella
Located at 268 26th St, Queens
Established in 1954 as a small community church. The Cathedral of Saint Markella blossomed into the spectacular Greek Orthodox Church it is today as the Greek community grew rapidly in the 1960s. Its patron saint, St. Markella, lived in Chios, Greece in the 14th century. According to legend, a miracle occurred when she was killed at a river in Chios and every year on July 22 at that location, worshippers flock to witness the miracle repeat itself. The architecture and interior design of The Cathedral of Saint Markella has many of the typical features of the Greek Orthodox style. The features outlined in this diagram are common to Greek Orthodox churches can be found in the cathedral.
The templon is shown here. The visual depiction of religious figureheads is particularly apparent in the Greek Orthodox Church.
Instead of pews, many Greek Orthodox Churches have rows of chairs, and the altar arrangement visible in Catholic Churches is not present in the same way.
The Horos hangs from beneath the dome. It is a kind of chandelier unique to Greek Orthodox Churches.
A couple of the parishioners gave some insight into the practices Greek Orthodox Christians do in the lead up to Easter Sunday, which takes place a week after the Catholic Easter, in accordance with the “Old Calendar” the church follows.
Saint Demetrios Cathedral
Located at 30th drive between 30 and 31st street.
Completed in 1942, the St. Demetrios Cathedral is another prominent Greek Orthodox Church in Astoria. The Cathedral stands adjacent to the St. Demetrios School, which was completed in 1957. The church has a spectacular interior design with tall pillars, sparkling chandeliers, and prominent iconography visible in the ceiling paintings and the stained glass windows.
The Church is right next to the N train line.
Unlike The Cathedral of Saint Markella, The St. Demetrios Cathedral has pews and stained glass windows.
Paintings of saints line the ceilings and railings.
The order and orientation of all of the flowers and candles seem very precise.
The Asian Presence:
As a result of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, Asians came over in much larger waves in the 1960s and 1970s. They were part of the larger trend of Asian migration that finally took place after decades of forced exclusion by the American government. Today in Astoria, Asians make up 21 percent of the foreign born population. Koreans and the Taiwanese make up a portion of this population and indeed a portion of the 24 percent of the total population of Astoria that is Asian.
The Good Shepherd United Korean Methodist Church
Located at the intersection of 30th drive and Crescent Street.
The stone building the congregation inhabits was built in 1886. It was initially called St. Paul’s Methodist Church but changed into a Korean Methodist church in the 1970s when it started to share the building with a Korean Methodist congregation. In addition to providing mass and religious services the church also serves as a rehearsal hall for the Astoria Performing Arts Center.
The Church holds an English service on Sunday at 9:45 A.M.
The Congregation at Palm Sunday. The majority of the parishioners are Korean.
The Church has a spectacular Organ behind the altar.
Taiwan Union Christian Church
Located at 31st street between 3oth and 31st avenue.
The Taiwan Union Christian Church was founded in 1970 by the greater Taiwanese community in New York City. The initial facility for worship was located at the Union Theological Seminary in Morningside Heights. The facility moved to its current location in Long Island City in Queens in 1983, with the chapel and three story building being occupied in 1997 by the Church. The church aims to serve both first and second generation Taiwanese, and it encourages youth and student activity strongly.
The entrance to the church.
A three story building accompanies the church.
Seats for a religious service in the church.
The Latino/South American Presence:
About 27 percent of the population in Astoria is Latino/Hispanic. The waves of Hispanic immigration to New York City from Latin America made the Latino population a significant ethnic group within Astoria. The presence of these Spanish-speaking residents has made a number of churches in Astoria offer masses in Spanish and exclusively Spanish religious communities arise.
The Church of the Redeemer
Located at intersection of 30th road and Crescent Street.
The Church of the Redeemer was founded in 1866; shortly after the draft riots came to an end in New York City. The church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island. It holds regular masses in Spanish and the head priest Rev. Canon Juan Bosch is a Cuban immigrant.
The church caters to the Spanish speaking population in Astoria.
The entrance to the church.
The inside of the church.
Ekklesia Christian Church
Located at 35th street Astoria Boulevard.
The Ekklesia Christian Church is a small international church community spanning across North America, South America, and Europe that was established in 2003. According to the website, it was developed by two pastors, Santiago and Paulina Proano, who established small ministries in the Hampton Bays-Long Island, Harrison Bay-New Jersey, and one in Astoria. The church’s aim is to have a meaningful social impact for the Spanish speaking community in Astoria.
A poster on the church’s website. It means the church has “a seedling of love.”
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
Located at intersection of Crescent and Newtown Avenue.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church was founded in 1871. It is a Catholic parish that holds masses in English and Spanish primarily, with semi regular masses held in Czech, Vietnamese, and Italian. Since 2003, the head pastor of the church has been bishop Paul R. Sanchez.
The cornerstone showing important dates in the church’s history.
A plaque on the rectory building of the church.
The altar of the Catholic Church.
The Jewish Presence:
In the first few decades of the twentieth century, Astoria had a substantial Jewish population. The Ladies Aid Society, now known as the Ladies Guild, was the driving force behind Jewish education and cultural development in the community. In 1921 plans were laid out to build a community center in Astoria that would cater to the needs and interests of the Jewish people, and by 1929 the Astoria Center of Israel was completed. Though the population shifts in Astoria have decreased the Jewish population, the center remains a landmark for the Jewish people in Astoria.
Astoria Center of Israel
Located on Crescent Street between 30th avenue and Newtown Avenue.
Bulletins and newspaper articles detailing the mission and vision behind the Synagogue.
The ornate front door to the synagogue has Jewish symbols and icons.
Conclusion:
Astoria’s religious scene is a convergence between the new and the old. The physical buildings where the services are held have remained largely unchanged, but the population has undergone such massive shifts that religious communities already there are having to adapt and entirely new religious communities are forming. The diversity and plurality of ethnic groups in Astoria reflects itself strongly in the character of the landscape of the religious institutions in the neighborhood.
Business training can really help you get a much better job.