Founded in 1987, St. Athanasius Orthodox Church is a vibrant faith community of all ages and backgrounds who are working out their faith and raising their families in accordance with the commandments of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our community is part of the ancient Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch where St. Luke in the Book of Acts tells us the believers were first mockingly called Christians (Acts 11:26). Our parish church is part of the Eastern Orthodox Church communion spread throughout the world. A communion of local churches throughout the world sharing, proclaiming, and living out the Faith once delivered to us through the Apostles. There are over 250 million Eastern Orthodox Christians in the world today and over 1 million in the United States. The majority of our congregants journeyed to the Orthodox Church from other Christian faith traditions, some even from non-Christian traditions, while several families grew up within the Orthodox Church and Faith.
We join together every Sunday and throughout the week to glorify the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit within the Orthodox Church's ancient forms of worship and prayer, to partake of the sacraments Christ offers us, and to learn together how to follow the spiritual life handed down to us from the Apostles. We continue in the tradition of what was said of the first converts to Jesus Christ who "devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42) When you visit us you will experience this reality! We welcome all to walk with us, even if just for a visit to "come and see" the worship of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are welcome at St. Athanasius.
Our Patron Saint
Athanasius was born in Alexandria in the year 296 A.D. and from his early childhood had an inclination to the spiritual life. He was a deacon to Archbishop Alexander and accompanied him to the First Ecumenical Council [Nicaea, 325 A.D.]. It was at this Council that Athanasius became renowned for his learning, devotion to and zeal for Orthodoxy. He contributed greatly to destroy the heresy of Arius and to strengthen Orthodoxy. He wrote the Symbol of Faith [The Creed] which was adopted at the Council.
Following the death of Alexander, Athanasius was elected Archbishop of Alexandria. In his calling as Archbishop of Alexandria, he remained for forty years, although not for the entire time on the archepiscopal throne of the archbishopric. With few exceptions, throughout his life he was persecuted by heretics. Of the emperors, he was persecuted mostly by Constantius, Julian and Valens; of the bishops, by Eusebius of Nicomedia and many others; and by the heretic Arius and his followers. Athanasius was forced to hide from his persecutors, even in a well, in a grave, in private homes and in the deserts. Twice he was forced to flee to Rome. Only before his death, did he live peacefully for a while as the good shepherd among his good flock who truly loved him.
Few are the saints who were so mercilessly slandered and so criminally persecuted as St. Athanasius. His great soul patiently endured all for the love of Christ and, in the end, emerged victorious from this entire, terrible and long-lasting struggle. For counsel, for comfort and for moral support, Athanasius often visited St. Anthony, whom he respected as his spiritual father. For a man who formulated the greatest truth, Athanasius had much to suffer for that truth until in the year 373 A.D., the Lord gave him repose in His kingdom as His faithful servant.
Our Building
In January of 2014, we moved into a newly-constructed building that is part of a 3-phase building project. We currently use the building and patio for worship, fellowship, classes and administration. We have an active building campaign to raise the funds needed to pay off the mortgage on Phase One, and to begin construction on our Temple, a stand alone dedicated Orthodox liturgical worship space.
More About us
To learn more about our history read this account from one of our founding members about our parish's history stretching from the 1970s before uniting to the Holy Orthodox Church into the 2010s. Our History