Rossford, Ohio, October 4, 2023
Photo: YouTube
The building that was formerly the cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America’s Bulgarian Diocese of Toledo is now a Hindu temple and cultural center.
The new Shree Swaminarayan Temple opened in the building that was once St. George Cathedral, where the Holy Eucharist was once celebrated, in Rossford, Ohio, on July 18, reports swaminarayangadi.com.
The Hindu site describes the worship that now takes place there:
Disciples from all across United States and Canada gathered to celebrate the opening of another Temple in Rossford, Ohio. The celebration commenced in the Temple hall where disciples particiapted in the maha-pooja vidhi that was led by Sants. Thereafter, Acharya Swamiji Maharaj was welcomed at the Temple's parking lot entrance, after which he resided on a float. Disciples performed poojan of Acharya Swamiji Maharaj before the Shoba yatra began and joyously danced and celebrated welcoming Acharya Swamiji Maharaj and sants to the Temple throughout the shoba yatra. Acharya Swamiji Maharaj entered the Temple Hall as disciples lined up on either side to perform darshan. In the Temple hall, disciples performed darshan of the annakut offered to Lord Shree Swaminarayan and performed aarti of the annakut after His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamiji Maharaj led the first aarti.
The parish under the patronage of St. George existed in the Toledo area since 1936, worshiping in a number of church buildings over the decades. The last cathedral building was built in 2001, the first Divine Liturgy was held on April 7, 2002, and the building was consecrated on October 26, 2003, according to the Bulgarian Diocese of Toledo.
Photo: bdoca.org
The local newspaper The Blade reported at the time of the consecration that the church cost $1.2 million to build. However, according to Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the cathedral sold in July for just $580,000.
Another local outlet, The Sentinel Tribune, reports that the church and its community hall were transferred directly from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church of St. George to Shree Swaminarayan Siddhant Sajivan Mandal Ohio, USA Inc.
The link to the cathedral website (www.stgeorgerossford.org) now leads to the site of a mission named for St. Elizabeth the New Martyr located in the same town.
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