Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Egg Harbor Township has reached a major milestone in its effort to build a new church, announcing Sunday that it has raised $3.5 million toward its $4 million capital campaign goal.
The announcement came during a packed banquet following Divine Liturgy, where parishioners gathered in the community center to celebrate the progress and look ahead to what comes next. Once the $4 million threshold is reached, parish leadership plans to begin demolition of the existing church and move forward with groundbreaking for a new sanctuary along Mill Road, just outside Atlantic City.
$3.5 Million and Counting
Capital campaign co-chairs Lia Potiris and Maria Lianidis told the community they are now within $500,000 of the target set by the General Assembly before construction can begin. The project will involve demolition of the current church before the new sanctuary is built on the same site.
“We are very close to our goal,” Lianidis said. “We’re down to about five hundred thousand dollars before we can put the shovel in the ground.”
Potiris acknowledged that at the outset, some parishioners questioned whether the goal was realistic.
“They thought it was a big number to reach,” she said. “But I think they’re getting excited, and today proved that.”
Throughout the afternoon, families stepped forward to pledge gifts to the Hope Plaza and Walk of Faith, along with additional donations. By the end of the program, organizers estimated roughly $50,000 in new commitments had been added.
The program was framed around the theme “We built our church together,” blending fundraising updates with testimonies and symbolic gestures that underscored that the project is about more than bricks and mortar.
A Church Designed to Be Seen and Felt
For parish leaders, the new church is intended to be both a house of worship and a visible Orthodox landmark in South Jersey.
Dr. Tom Papademetriou, historian and member of the building leadership team, described three defining features: natural light, a prominent dome, and a dedicated adult baptistry.
“We were designing it to be light-filled,” he said, pointing to upper gallery windows and the central dome. “The architecture here is going to elevate our souls.”
From Mill Road, the golden dome is expected to stand out.
“It’s going to be a monument for the region,” Papademetriou said. “When people drive by, there’s nothing like it in the whole of South Jersey until you get to Cherry Hill.”
The inclusion of an adult baptistry reflects a growing number of people discovering Orthodoxy later in life. Parish leaders noted that the baptistry was among the first features to receive anonymous funding, a sign of the community’s desire to welcome both cradle Orthodox and new faithful.
The sanctuary’s open floor plan is designed to maintain visual and liturgical connection to the altar. Plans also include expanded gathering areas and iconography intended to shape the spiritual experience of the space for generations.
How the Campaign Found Its Momentum
Recent momentum has been supported by the experience of committee member Peter Kaprielian, who brought decades of nonprofit fundraising experience after relocating to the shore.
“They were in a tough spot and needed some rejuvenation and organization,” Kaprielian said. “So I helped bring some structure.”
He emphasized that the strength of the campaign lies not only in major gifts, but in sacrificial giving at every level.
“For this church, there are many who are in the position where one thousand dollars is a sacrificial gift,” he said. “In a community like ours, five hundred dollars may represent as much sacrifice as a five-figure gift somewhere else.”
Beyond finances, he said, the goal is to create a space that lifts people spiritually the moment they enter.
“A really inspirational church takes you to a new spiritual height,” he said. “That would be the hope.”
Memory, Responsibility, and the Long View
Former parish council president Brian Sacco recalled the General Assembly vote that formally committed the parish to building and set the $4 million prerequisite.
“There were so many people in this room,” he said. “Everybody raised their hands. It was a clear majority.”
Founding parishioner Chris Georges described the new sanctuary as the next chapter in a story that began more than 40 years ago.
“Our current church has done exactly what it was meant to do,” he said. “But we have grown. Our needs have grown. Our vision must continue to grow.”
For Father George Liacopoulos, who has served the parish for more than three decades, the milestone carries both gratitude and reflection.
“Oftentimes they say it’s the journey that brings the spiritual fruit,” he said. While thankful the parish is nearing its goal, he said he is especially grateful that the campaign has not divided the community.
“What we priests worry about more than anything is bickering and fighting,” he said. “Instead, there has been cooperation.”
During construction, parish leaders say services and ministries will continue in a temporary space so that liturgical life remains uninterrupted.
“It’s Our Turn”: A Young Parishioner Looks Ahead
The clearest glimpse of the parish’s future came from 15-year-old Patrick Malars, who spoke on behalf of the youth.
“For me, Holy Trinity is where I learned about God, where I made lifelong friends, and where I’ve seen our faith in action,” he said.
He described serving as an altar boy and participating in GOYA, Greek dance, and parish athletics.
“It’s an opportunity to build the future of our Greek Orthodox faith and our parish family,” he said. “With God’s guidance and our community working together, it can become a reality for generations to come.”
As the parish looks toward raising the remaining $500,000 needed to begin construction, Malars’ words captured both urgency and hope.
Parishioners and friends who would like to support the Building on Faith Capital Campaign can learn more or make a donation at holytrinityoutreach.com/donate.
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