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Sts. Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church

Coordinates: 29°17′33″N 94°48′46″W / 29.292503°N 94.812712°W / 29.292503; -94.812712
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Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church
Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church
Map
29°17′33″N 94°48′46″W / 29.292503°N 94.812712°W / 29.292503; -94.812712
LocationGalveston, Texas
CountryUSA
DenominationSerbian Orthodoxy
Previous denominationRussian Orthodoxy
History
StatusParish church
Founded1861 (1861) (parish founded)
Consecrated3 June 1896
Architecture
Groundbreaking1895
Completed1896
Administration
SynodHoly Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church
MetropolisMetropolitanate of Libertyville-Chicago
DioceseDiocese of New Gracanica - Midwestern America
ParishSaints Constantine and Helen Parish
Clergy
Bishop(s)Vladika Longin
Priest(s)Serge Veselinovich

The Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church (Serbian: Цара Константина и Јелене Српске православне цркве) is a Serbian Orthodox church located in Galveston, Texas, USA. It is a parish of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gracanica - Midwestern America.

History

The 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 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

Galveston 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]

  • Church altar
    Church altar

See also

References

  1. ^ 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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ a b Milosevich, Mimo (2010-01-23). "First priest of isle parish made lasting impact". Galveston County Daily News. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  4. ^ "Ss. Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church". Orthodox Christian Religious Foundation. 2011-02-25.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ The European Texans. Texas A&M University Press. 2004. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-58544-352-9. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  7. ^ "Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church". The Orthodox Clergy Association of Southeast Texas. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  8. ^ "Brief History of the Greek Parish of Galveston, Texas". Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  9. ^ Turner, Bronwyn (2010-08-22). "Island native, Serbian Orthodox Church leader dies". Galveston County Daily News. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
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