ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY

The Russian Orthodox community in Austin gathered for prayer for many years but did not have their own church. In 2001, a mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad was established in Austin in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Father Lyubomir (Merchant), rector of the Church of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, began traveling to celebrate services in Church Slavonic on feast days.

 In June 2007, Father Cassian Sibley, rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” (Bryan, TX), was appointed rector of the mission in Austin. From that time, liturgies were celebrated monthly, mostly in English. Services were held in a small trailer kindly provided by Halina’s Spa beauty salon.

At the end of 2008, Hieromonk Aidan (Keller) was appointed priest of the parish. Father Aidan conducted services in Church Slavonic and English.

 In 2011, a building was purchased in the town of Pflugerville: 1701 Peridot Road.

 In 2020, Father Aidan was transferred to the Monastery of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica in West Virginia. In August of the same year, the English-speaking Father Moses was appointed rector of the parish. At the end of 2020, a new building was purchased in Georgetown. From that moment on, the parish was renamed in honor of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Iveron-Hawaii.

 In mid-October 2023, by decree of Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Central America, a new parish was formed, whose patron saint was Blessed St. Xenia of St. Petersburg. Priest Daniil Kolesnikov, who arrived with his family in Austin from Russia in early October, was appointed rector of the new parish.

The newly formed parish began its existence with a prayer service and the reading of an Akathist to Blessed St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, in the building of the Russian Cultural Center.

After the service, the rector and parishioners visited the “Dobré” Festival (which means “Good”) organized by the Russian Cultural Center, where Fr. Daniil addressed the Russian diaspora with a pastoral word.

Literally within the first week after the rector’s arrival, temporary space for worship was found.

In January 2024, the community of Blessed St. Xenia of St. Petersburg moved to a new rental property at 11601 Anderson Mill Rd, Austin, TX 78750.