About Cathedral of Our Lady of Annunciation [Melkite] · West Roxbury, Massachusetts
Our Lady of the Annunciation Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral is the mother church (cathedral) and seat of the bishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton, which covers the entire United States. Located at 7 VFW Parkway in the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, it is a modern cathedral inspired by Byzantine architecture, designed by architect Lawrence J. Cuneo and dedicated on April 24, 1966. As both cathedral and active parish, it serves the Melkite Greek Catholic faithful of Greater Boston with Divine Liturgy celebrated in both English and Arabic, alongside Byzantine chant and a full sacramental life rooted in the Eastern Catholic tradition in communion with Rome.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Annunciation (the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Annunciation)
- Rector
- Rt. Rev. Philip Raczka, PhD (Rector; also Protosyncellus of the Eparchy of Newton)
- Diocese
- Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (covering the entire United States)
Why belong here
The Annunciation Cathedral is the spiritual home of the Greek Catholic Melkite tradition in the United States: it is the seat of the bishop of the entire eparchy and the center of Byzantine Catholic liturgical life on the East Coast. Parishioners worship in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom celebrated weekly in English and in Arabic, hear Byzantine chant, receive all seven sacraments in the Eastern form, and belong to a parish community that the Melkite Greek Catholic Church calls its national cathedral. It is also the visible custodian of a 60-year-old Byzantine-style landmark on VFW Parkway, with the kind of warm Melkite parish life — coffee hours, sodality meetings, feast-day celebrations (notably the Annunciation on March 25), and Arabic-language gatherings — that draws families seeking both an authentically Eastern Catholic experience and full communion with Rome.
Mass times at Cathedral of Our Lady of Annunciation [Melkite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before and after every Divine Liturgy (and before and after any service)
- Sunday: Confessions 8:00 a.m., before and after Liturgy
- Saturday: Confession 5:30 p.m.
- By appointment (call the Rectory)
History of the Parish and Cathedral
Our Lady of the Annunciation was established in 1908 by Boston's Syrian and Lebanese Melkite immigrants in the South End, first worshiping in a converted commercial building at 178 Harrison Avenue. After growth and two relocations — to a renovated Roman Catholic church on Warren Avenue in 1942, then to the present VFW Parkway campus in 1964–1966 — the parish became the cathedral of the new U.S. Melkite exarchate on March 25, 1966. The Eparchy of Newton was canonically erected at the cathedral on May 8, 1977.
- Founded 1908 in Boston's South End; first titled Our Lady of the Annunciation Syrian Catholic Church
- First Divine Liturgy served November 1908; building formally dedicated June 27, 1910
- Moved to a renovated Warren Avenue church rededicated May 3, 1942
- Groundbreaking at 7 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, on May 31, 1964
- Architect Lawrence J. Cuneo; general contractor Rich Construction Company
- Inaugural Divine Liturgy March 25, 1966; altar consecrated April 23, 1966; building dedicated April 24, 1966
- Eparchy of Newton canonically erected at the cathedral on May 8, 1977
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The cathedral is led by a small team of clergy and staff who serve both as parish priests and as eparchial officials. The rector is concurrently the Protosyncellus (chief priest) of the Eparchy of Newton.
- Bishop François Beyrouti — Bishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton
- Rt. Rev. Philip Raczka, PhD — Rector and Protosyncellus
- Rev. James Koury, M.T.S. — Vice-Rector
- Rev. Deacon John Moses
- Rev. Deacon Ibrahim Zeinieh
- Rev. Deacon Elias Bailey
- Gracia Skaf — Administrative Assistant
Worship, Liturgy and Schedule
The cathedral follows the Byzantine liturgical calendar, with the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom celebrated in English on Sunday mornings and in Arabic on Sunday late-morning, plus a Wednesday evening Liturgy and Saturday Great Vespers. Feast Days are marked with Great Vespers the evening before and a Divine Liturgy at 7:00 p.m. on the day of the feast.
- Sunday Orthros: 8:45 a.m.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m. (English); 11:30 a.m. (Arabic; 11:00 a.m. in July and August)
- Wednesday Divine Liturgy: 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday Great Vespers: 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday Confession: 5:30 p.m.
- Feast Days: Great Vespers 7:00 p.m. evening before; Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m. on the feast day
Sacraments and Sacramental Guidelines
All seven Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Byzantine Catholic Church are celebrated at the cathedral. Confession is available before and after every service or by appointment, and parishioners are encouraged to contact the parish office to arrange baptisms, weddings, and other pastoral needs.
- Holy Mystery of Confession: before/after any service, or by appointment
- Holy Mystery of Baptism: contact the parish for required baptismal preparation
- Holy Mystery of Chrismation (Confirmation)
- Holy Mystery of Crowning (Marriage): arranged with the priest
- Holy Mystery of Holy Unction (Anointing of the Sick)
- Holy Mystery of Holy Orders
- Pastoral counsel and home visits by appointment
Languages and Byzantine Heritage
Worship is celebrated in English and Arabic, with liturgical texts in Byzantine Greek, reflecting the Arabic-speaking Syrian and Lebanese roots of the U.S. Melkite community. The cathedral's modern Byzantine-inspired architecture consciously departs from the Latinized style of the earlier South End church, which had no iconostasis.
- English-language Divine Liturgy on Sundays
- Arabic-language Divine Liturgy on Sundays
- Byzantine chant and liturgical texts in Greek
- Byzantine-style architecture designed by Lawrence J. Cuneo
Feast Days and Devotions
The patron feast of the cathedral is the Annunciation (March 25). Each Great Feast of the Byzantine liturgical year is marked by Great Vespers the evening before and a 7:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast, allowing working faithful to attend.
- Feast of the Annunciation — patron feast day, March 25
- Great Vespers — 7:00 p.m. evening before each feast
- Divine Liturgy — 7:00 p.m. on the day of each Great Feast
Visiting the Cathedral
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the cathedral, located at 7 VFW Parkway in West Roxbury. Anyone may attend the Sunday or Wednesday Divine Liturgy, make a Confession before or after any service, or arrange a pastoral appointment by calling the Rectory.
- Address: 7 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132
- Phone: (617) 323-5242; alternate (617) 323-5248
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.bostonmelkite.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/melkitecathedral
- Confession available before and after any service, or by appointment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Archimandrite Nicholas Ghannam, BSO1908–1925
First pastor; formerly superior of the Salvatorian community in Zahlé, Lebanon. Served with his brother Father Athanasius Ghannam, BSO.
- Father Peter Abouzeid, BSO1925–
Second pastor; later transferred to Lawrence, Massachusetts.
- Father Simon
Later pastor; period of ministry associated with parish re-dedication/remodeling and the move to Warren Avenue.
- Father Coriaty
Pastor whose term ended in 1960 when he was transferred to Canada.
- Archimandrite Jean (John) Bassoul, BSO1960–1962
Sixth pastor; initiated the relocation to West Roxbury. Elected to head the Archeparchy of Homs, Hama and Yabroud; ordained bishop at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, April 28, 1962.
- Father John Elya, BSO1962 (briefly)
Administrator between Bassoul's departure and Malouf's appointment; later became a bishop.
- Father Lucien Malouf, BSO1962–
Seventh pastor (November 1, 1962); built the West Roxbury cathedral and was delegated first rector of the cathedral in 1966.
- Rt. Rev. Philip Raczka, PhD
Current Rector and Protosyncellus of the Eparchy of Newton.