(Richmond, VA) Progress continues, slowly but surely, on the building of the new Temple here. There is some hope that the faithful may be able to occupy the church by the Feast of Pentecost, but whether or not that is the case, the community of St Cyprian of Carthage is preparing to move from its current location which has served them well for many years and begin a new chapter in the life of parish.

(Mt. Pleasant, SC)  Priest John Parker's latest building update shows the finished plastered interior of Holy Ascenion and the beautiful work being done on the exterior of the property. Enjoy by clicking here.

(Mt Pleasant, SC) Priest John Parker reports and his photos confirm that the pace of work at Holy Ascenion has picked up considerably since the Christmas New Year hiatus. The most recent pictures give an excellent sense of the height of the central area of the narthex. It is very impressive and the entire worship space is inspiring. Enjoy the updates.

Construction Update 1/29/08

Additional photos

(Safety Harbor, FL) In an email to the Chancery in Dallas, Archpriest Peter Tutko titled his message THE END IS NEAR. We know not when the Lord will come again in His Glory, but it appears that Father Peter knows that the end is near, at least for the Holy Trinity in Safety Harbor's building project.

The latest pictures reveal that interior work continues with walls painted, floors installed and all those little projects that must be "checked off" the list before the doors can open and the worship of the Lord celebrated in their new temple.

Father Peter and the faithful of Holy Trinity will invite the local Orthodox clergy and faithful on February 16 to be their guests at the new temple. His Eminence is planning on consecrating the new temple in October 2008.

(Mt. Pleasant, SC) Now that the Christmas and New Year holidays are over, workers have reappeared at Holy Ascension and progress both inside and outside is underway.

New copper cupolas have been delivered and the plastering the interior wall of the temple is taking place again. Priest John Parker reports that the accoustics are outstanding!

Please enjoy the photo updates.

(Richmond, VA) Priest David Arnold, Rector of St Cyprian of Carthage Church here gave His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri a building update today reporting that “the walls are going up and the new church is taking shape.” The pictures accompanying the report testify to the truth of his words. For a complete building progress report in pictures, log on here to the St Cyprian website.

(Dallas, TX) Archpriest Peter Tutko recently sent in photos of the new cupolas being set atop the roof of the new Church in Safetly Harbor, FL.

In addition, Priest John Parker has produced and year-to-date comparison in pictures to mark the building progress in Mt. Pleasant, SC.

A look at the St. Cyprian of Carthage website reveals steady progress as the foundation has been poured for the new Church. Click here for various slideshows marking important steps in Richmond.

We give thanks to God for the sacrifice and dedication by our faithful to make such building projects a well-pleasing offering to our Lord.

(Mt. Pleasant, SC) One of the most important stages in the building of the new Temple here took place today as the Cross was set in place atop the dome of Holy Ascension Church.

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(Dallas, TX) His Eminence was updated on the continuing building efforts in several DOS communities this past week including: Richmond, VA., Bradenton, FL., and Safety Harbor, FL.

(Mt Pleasant, SC) The plaster is going on the walls at Holy Ascension.
Click here for photos.

(Safety Harbor, FL) Archpriest Peter Tutko, rector of Church of the Holy Trinity has shared new building update photos. As you can see the walls are up and the roof is on.

(Richmond, VA) The week of September 10 saw the heavy equipment move onto the new building site here and the earth start to move as footers were dug and concrete pads were poured by the end of the month. The footprint of the new Temple is now visible and with good weather major steps in the building process for St Cyprian of Carthage Church here will accomplished before the winter months set in. For complete photos essays click here

 

(Safety Harbor, FL) Archpriest Peter Tutko, rector of The Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity here snapped these pictures of walls being constructed on their new Temple. Safety Harbor, located on the northwest of Tampa, was established in 1964 and moved out of St. Petersburg to Safety Harbor in 1996.

Parishioners of Holy Trinity come from a variety of backgrounds, cradle and converts to Orthodoxy. The parish education program is held on Saturday's from 4-6pm with a twice monthly Bible Study on Wednesdays

The parish is also involved in the local Safety Harbor Food Pantry and other community activities which include involving the youth of the parish.

We look forward to sharing construction photos with you as they become available.

Latest progress report from Fr John Parker in Mt. Pleasant, SC
Click here

(Mt Pleasant, SC)  The weekly update from Fr John Parker and Holy Ascension Mission.  Click here.

Hot off the press from Mt. Pleasant, SC. Click here.

Here are the latest updates from Priest John Parker. Please keep him and their community in your prayers.

Update 1

Update 2

The dome is now "coppered" and the interior of the Church continues to be built out!  Click here.

Latest contruction updates from Holy Ascension in Mt Pleasant.

Click here.

Latest contruction updates from Holy Ascension in Mt Pleasant.

Click here.

Here is the latest construction update from Holy Ascension in Mt Pleasant, SC

(Mt Pleasant, SC) Click the link to view the .pdf file of Holy Ascension in Mt Pleasant, SC

(Mt Pleasant, SC) Priest John Parker has a new set of incredible photos of the temple being built here. Please keep him and his entire flock in your prayers. And speaking of prayers, here is a prayer that is being offered at Holy Ascension during their building project. His Eminence has blessed its use in Mt Pleasant and any of the other building sites across the DOS.


Lord Jesus Christ our God, the Cornerstone of Thy holy Church, look down upon this temple which we build and offer to Thy glory. Preserve every worker in safety and peace; guard each from harm and hurt; inspire and strengthen each in his labors, and especially be mindful of (names of workers.)

Remember, Lord, Giver of every good gift, the friends and benefactors of this holy temple, who with generous hearts support the construction of this sacred place.

And as Thou didst proclaim that even if Thy disciples were silent, the very stones would cry out, so also grant that this holy temple may draw all of the residents of our community to worship Thee in spirit and in truth.

Enflame our hearts to know and accomplish Thy will faithfully and diligently, offering all we are and all we possess to the glory of Thy holy Name.

For Thou art the true Philanthropist—the Lover of Mankind—and to Thee we send up glory, together with Thine eternal Father, and Thy most holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

(Mt. Pleasant, SC) Here are the latest pictures from Fr. John Parker in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Even with lots of rain and bad weather, the walls of the new church continue to rise. Praise God.

(Tulsa, OK) The land has been purchased and blessed, the cross is planted, the building plans submitted and approved, and the work has begun as a small band of dedicated missionaries work to dig deep the roots of Orthodoxy in Tulsa, OK.

Led by Priest Ambrose Arrington, Holy Apostles Mission has made tremendous progress in their goal to build their temple. With dirt now being turned, we will keep you updated. Please keep them in your prayers

 

 

Fr John Parker has shared the latest pictures with all of us of Holy Ascension's new temple.

In 2004, St. Cyprian's purchased 5.78 acres of open grassy pasture dotted with mature oak trees on the western suburbs of Richmond, south of the James River. This past September, a water well was dug on the property to prepare it for the eventual construction. For more information, visit the St. Cyprian parish website at http://www.stcyprianoca.org

(Mt Pleasant, SC) Work continues at Holy Ascension here. Copper work has begun on the dome and here are the pictures.

(Mt. Pleasant, SC) Priest John Parker has sent some great building update pictures. Let this project be an inspiration to all those also undertaking their respective building projects.

Fr. John Parker has sent us his latest photo journal update of the new temple in Charleston/Mt. Pleasant, SC. It just gets better and better. Praise God and keep passing the mortar!!

(Mt Pleasant, SC) Work continues at Holy Ascension with the latest construction photos provided by Fr John Parker. (It is a large .pdf file so please be patient while it uploads.) Enjoy.

(Dallas, TX) Fr John Parker has sent us the latest progress pictures of the new temple being built in Mt Pleasant, SC while Fr Ambrose Arrington, priest of Holy Apostles Mission in Tulsa, OK has posted photos on their mission website detailing the progress on the building of their new chapel.

These two communities demonstrate how DOS missions uniquely respond to the needs of their respective realities. Both are currently in rented facilities that they have outgrown. In Mt. Pleasant, SC, the community has been able to jump from its rented storefront to its own church. In Tulsa, the community will go from rented space to an intermediate chapel being built on its own land. The future church for Holy Apostles Mission will be built on the same land adjacent to the chapel.

Let us rejoice in the Risen Lord as these two communites move ahead in their respective efforts to erect temples for the Glory of God.

(Mt Pleasant, SC) Here is this week's construction update from Holy Ascension Mission.

(Mt Pleasant, SC) The construction of Holy Acension's new temple took a dramatic step this morning when the wooden framed domed was lifted into place. The dome will be covered in copper. 

(Mt Plesant, SC)  For those who were not able to be present when the dome for Holy Ascension Church here was hoisted into place, enjoy the video of it. It is a 15mb file in Quicktime format (.mov) and will take several minutes to download if you are on a dsl connection. But it is worth the wait.

Click below.
http://www.ocacharleston.org/TheDome.mov

(Bradenton, FL) The construction of the new St Mark Church here is taking shape with rapid speed. Taking advantage of good weather, the walls of the church reach higher everyday. We will keep you posted as new photos are shared with the DOS.

(Richmond, VA) The St Cyprian of Carthage Church site plan was approved this week by the Office of County Planner here. This is a big step in the building process for the parish as they will now submit the project for bids. It is possible that building could begin in 45 days.

In a related topic the parish has raised $100,000 in building fund donations. This amount is significant because it will now be matched as part of a challenge grant. The funds were raised without additional fund-raisers and without any detrimental effect to the normal operational budget of the parish.

We look forward to bringing you new updates from St Cyprian's in the days and months ahead. Please keep Father David Arnold and the members of the parish in your prayers.

(Mt Pleasant, SC) The cornerstone for Holy Ascension Church was set in place on the Feast of Pentecost - yet another sign of the progress of their building project.

(Tulsa, OK) Rapid progress continues as Holy Apostles Mission here builds its new chapel dedicated to St. Matthew. The latest milestone is the installation of the chapel's new dome. For a pictorial update of the building construction, click here.

(Dallas, TX) DOS Treasurer, Milos Konjevich reports that 2007 Income figures are ahead of last year's record pace in a year-to-date comparison. A review of the numbers reveals that last year through July 6, Tithe and Assessment income totals for 2006 were $257,147. This year the total is $368,140, an increase of 43%.

A deanery by deanery review shows that the South Florida Deanery is posting a 191% increase over last year. This is primarly due to three parishes posting significant increases, Christ the Saviour in Miami, St James in Port St. Lucie, and Holy Spirit in Venice. Only one deanery is showing a decrease, the Appalachian Deanery down -24%. This is due in large part to the significant amount of tithe income offered last year from St Cyprian of Carthage Mission while they were raising funds for their building project. That fund raising has now leveled off and is naturally reflected in their tithe to the diocese. Here is a breakdown by deanery:

Y-T-D Comparison by Deanery         Increase         2007          2006

Appalachian Deanery                         -24                 $35,914     $47,128
Southeastern (Atlanta) Deanery            65                 $34,836     $21,102
Carolinas Deanery                              80                 $72,786     $40,429
South central (Dallas) Deanery             53                 $111,657   $72,950
South Florida (Miami) Deanery             191                $51,599     $17,738
Central Florida (Orlando) Deanery         6                   $61,247     $57,799

Totals                                              43%               $368,140   $257,147

A complete financial report will be made by Mr. Konjevich at the upcoming DOS Assembly in Miami, July 17-19. The Assembly will begin the 30th Year Anniversary celebration for the DOS which will conclude in Dallas in 2008. Each diocese during the 30th Year Celebration will be hosting deanery events to mark the occassion.