Historic Name

G.C. Church of the Nativity

Address

247 E Front St

Municipality

City of Erie

Tax Parcel

14010051010800

Historic District

Classification

Class 2 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

803362

Historic Function

Religion - religious structure

Style

High Gothic Revival

Built

1986

Architect

Builder

Barn Type on property

Last Entry Update

8/8/2016

The parish of the Church of the Nativity was established in 1916 by Russian Old Believer immigrants in Erie. By 1919, the Church of the Nativity’s original house of worship was constructed for the growing Russian community of Erie. The church prided on its sense of culture and tradition, conducting masses in Slavonic, their native language. By the 1940s, the church’s parishioners became interested in American culture and the English language. However, masses were held in the Slavonic language until 1980, when Father Simon Pimen began conducting services in English to attract new parishioners. To further the development of the church, Father Pimen Simon, along with the parish committee, decided to unite with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Following this decision, Father Pimen was officially ordained into the priesthood, and the church was fully consecrated.

On July 22, 1986, the entire original church was destroyed by the fire, with the exception of the royal doors, deacon’s doors, iconoclasts, icons, books, alter, vestments, and the sanctuary. It was considered a miracle that the parish’s most sacred objects were spared by the fire. Four days after the fire, a temporary church was opened in the church’s community center. Construction for the new church began in October 1986 and was completed in Summer 1987. On August 25, 1987, the church held its first service in the new church – 68 years after the original church opened in 1919.

Sources: Northwest Institute of Research, Historic Survey 1982

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Photo courtesy, Erie County Assessment Office