Malbis Memorial Church
| Malbis Memorial Church | |
|---|---|
| Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of the Presentation of Theotokos | |
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| Coordinates: 30°39′7″N 87°51′4″W / 30.65194°N 87.85111°W | |
| Location | Malbis, Alabama |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Greek Orthodox |
| History | |
| Dedication | Presentation of the Theotokos |
| Dedicated | January 3, 1965 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Frederick C. Woods |
| Style | Byzantine Revival |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick, Limestone, Marble |
Malbis Memorial Church, formally the Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of the Presentation of Theotokos, is a Greek Orthodox Church located in Malbis, Baldwin County, Alabama. Although not a part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, it is one of only roughly six Greek Orthodox churches in the state of Alabama. It is known for its intricate and extensive mosaics and paintings. Officially dedicated on January 3, 1965, the opening service for the church was conducted by Archbishop Iakovos of America. It has never had an active congregation, but religious observances, special services, and events, such as weddings, do take place. It was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on November 30, 1977. The Malbis Plantation Historic District, which includes the church, was designated by the Alabama Historical Commission in 2008, a year that also saw the death of the last of Malbis Plantation's original Greek settlers.
The history of the church at Malbis begins with the foundation of Malbis Plantation by Jason Malbis, a Greek immigrant. Born Antonios Markopoulos in the settlement of Doumena, he spent the first half of his life in a monastery. He initially emigrated to Chicago around 1900. He changed his name to Malbis while there and then, along with one of his friends, William Papageorge, he traveled around the country in search of a place to establish a Greek community. They purchased 120 acres (49 ha) near Daphne, Alabama in 1906 at $5 per acre. This formed the nucleus of Malbis Plantation.
Other Greek families then joined the monk and Papageorge and began building the plantation in the thickly wooded and unsettled area, with an additional 600 acres (240 ha) purchased in 1909. The population had grown to 85 by 1920. The group was self-sufficient, farming the land. They eventually had their own power plant, dairy, cannery, bank, garage, nursery, timber company, motel, a bakery in nearby Mobile, and more than 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) of property.
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