Sts. Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church
The Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church is a Serbian Orthodox church located in Galveston, Texas, United States. It is a parish of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gracanica - Midwestern America.
| Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church | |
|---|---|
 Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church | |
 | |
| 29°17′33″N 94°48′46″W / 29.292503°N 94.812712°W | |
| Location | Galveston, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Serbian Orthodoxy |
| Previous denomination | Russian Orthodoxy |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1861 (parish founded) |
| Consecrated | 3 June 1896 |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1895 |
| Completed | 1896 |
| Administration | |
| Synod | Bishops' Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Metropolis | Metropolitanate of Libertyville-Chicago |
| Diocese | Diocese of New Gracanica - Midwestern America |
| Parish | Saints Constantine and Helen Parish |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Longin (Krčo) |
| Priest(s) | Father Djordje Veselinovic |
History
editThe eastern orthodox community had existed in the port city of Galveston since 1861 as the parish of Saints Constantine and Helen.[1][2][3] By the late 1800s a group of Serbs, Greeks, and Russians appealed to the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Tsar Nicholas II for a church.[1] The Tsar approved the establishment of a church and in 1895 construction began. The building was finished in 1896 and consecration took place on the feast day of Saint Constantine and Saint Helen.[1] Tsar Nicholas II also personally donated icons for the Iconostasis, a gospel book, and a number of sacred vessels. The first priest assigned to the new church was Archimandrite Theoclitos (Triantafilides).[3][4][5] Services were originally held in Greek, Russian and Serbian; however, in 1933 the Greek members of the church voted to create a "daughter parish" of Sts. Constantine and Helen and operate it under the Greek Orthodox Church, naming their new church Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church.[6][7][8]
Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church was the first Serbian Orthodox church in the state and its parish is the oldest Orthodox parish in Texas.[5] The church also holds the distinction of being the second oldest Serbian Orthodox church in the United States.[5]
Notable clergy
editGalveston native, Metropolitan Bishop Christopher Kovacevich of the Metropolitanate of Libertyville-Chicago, was born and raised as a member of Saints Constantine and Helen church.[5] As an adult and Metropolitan, he would frequently return to the city and preside at church weddings and baptisms.[9]
Gallery
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Church altar
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c Casanova, Amanda (2010-05-10). "Serbian Orthodox church to break ground". Galveston County Daily News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
- ^ "CONSECRATION OF THE HOLY THREE HIERARCHS CHURCH IN DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TEXAS". Central Church Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in America and Canada. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
- ^ a b Milosevich, Mimo (2010-01-23). "First priest of isle parish made lasting impact". Galveston County Daily News. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
- ^ "Ss. Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church". Orthodox Christian Religious Foundation. 2011-02-25.
- ^ a b c d "BISHOP LONGIN VISITS GALVESTON, TEXAS". Central Church Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in America and Canada. 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
- ^ The European Texans. Texas A&M University Press. 2004. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-58544-352-9. - Access date: 2011-02-27
- ^ "Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church". The Orthodox Clergy Association of Southeast Texas. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Brief History of the Greek Parish of Galveston, Texas". Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Turner, Bronwyn (2010-08-22). "Island native, Serbian Orthodox Church leader dies". Galveston County Daily News. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
Sources
edit- Vuković, Sava (1998). History of the Serbian Orthodox Church in America and Canada 1891–1941. Kragujevac: Kalenić.