History
The eastern orthodox community had existed in the Port of Galveston, port city of Galveston since 1861 as the parish of Saints Constantine and Helen. By the late 1800s a group of Serbs, Greeks, and Russians appealed to the Most Holy Synod, Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Tsar Nicholas II for a church. 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 Constantine I, Saint Constantine and Helena (Empress), Saint Helen. 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). Services were originally held in greek language, Greek, russian language, Russian and serbian language, 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 Archdiocese of America, Greek Orthodox Church, naming their new church Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church. - Access date: 2011-02-27 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. The church also holds the distinction of being the second oldest Serbian Orthodox church in the United States.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. As an adult and Metropolitan, he would frequently return to the city and preside at church weddings and baptisms.Gallery
See also
*Serbian Orthodox Church *Serbian AmericanReferences
Sources
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