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In August 1985, Reverend Nicholas C. Triantafilou, Proistamenos of Annunciation Cathedral in Houston, Texas, came to Austin to meet with a handful of Greek Orthodox families with the inclination toward starting the first Greek Orthodox Church in the growing State Capital area. His Grace, Bishop Anthimos of Denver visited Austin on December 9, 1985 and gave his blessing to proceed with the new parish – with this the Greek Orthodox Church of Austin was born. It was three years later when, at the recommendation of Father Nick, the membership of the new community voted to officially name the church

The Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church (celebrating its feast day on August 6). Beginning in February 1986, the small parish began using St. George’s Episcopal Church for Divine Liturgy Services twice monthly. Ministry teams were appointed in April 1986 (with the Ladies Philoptochos Society being established November 9, 1991). When Father Nick assumed the position of the Archdiocese Vicar General on September 1, 1987, he continued to serve the Austin parish on the weekends with the approval of the Archdiocese. For the next 5 1/2 years the church met every Sunday morning in the Parish Hall of Resurrection Episcopal Church.

As time passed and the parish grew, it became clear that a permanent church home was needed. With the goal of buying property to build a permanent place of worship, the community began searching for property. In order to raise funds for this substantial goal, the parish participated with a Greek Souvlaki and Baklava Booth in five consecutive Austin Pecan Street Festivals, beginning in the fall of 1987. In addition, the parish established a number of other fundraising activities, including monthly luncheons, which continue to the present day. Finally, on June 21, 1990, after evaluating over 100 properties, the small parish purchased 4.2 acres located at 414 St. Stephens School Road – one of the highest hilltops in Travis County. One year later, the first of several outdoor Divine Liturgies were held on the property. The slab for the church facilities, named Mt. Tabor Hall by the Parish Assembly on May 12, 1991 was poured in October, 1992. On April 4, 1993 the parish held its first Divine Liturgy at the new facilities. The facilities contained a fellowship hall, which would serve as the church, a kitchen, offices and classrooms.

After eleven years of ministry to the parish of Transfiguration, Reverend Nicholas Triantafilou was reassigned to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Due to the growth in parish membership to over a 120 pledging families, the parish council realized the need to request a full time priest. For eight months, while waiting assignment for a permanent priest, the parish continued to hold Sunday morning services with visiting priests. Effective July 1, 1997, His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver assigned Reverend Jordan G. Brown as Transfiguration’s first full time priest. Previously, Father Jordan was assistant priest at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas, Texas for almost four years. With full time pastoral presence, a broader spectrum of ministries, including weekday worship services, were offered. In December 1997, a needs assessment was conducted to determine the direction of future development for the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church. The parish community was growing and with proper planning, future needs could be addressed. The parish was financially secure and physical expansion was feasible. The study resulted in a recommendation to the Parish Assembly to construct a traditional Byzantine style church. The parish membership voted to accept the recommendation and the desire and goal to construct a Byzantine style church was fueled.  Over the next five years the members worked hard seeking individual contributions and pledges along with initiating many fundraising activities that slowly helped transform the vision of building a church into a reality.

In early May 2003, the foundation for the new Sanctuary was poured and the parish celebrated with a “blessing of the foundation” ceremony, placing holy objects and the name of all members at the time inside an area of the foundation located under the future altar. Construction work continued throughout the year. Icons, written by the Byzantine Iconographer Diamantis Cassis, were installed into the iconostasis. In January 2004 the parish celebrated a Thyranoixia (Door Opening) Ceremony with His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah officiating. A banquet was held that evening at the Barton Creek Country Club. Iconographer Leonidas Diamantopoulos was chosen to write the iconography for the Sanctuary. The first phase of Sanctuary iconography, including the Platytera, the Dormition of the Theotokos, the Hierarchs, and the major feasts in the life of Christ were installed in the Sanctuary in September 2006. The parish remained active during the challenging years of planning and construction of the new Sanctuary.  In February 2002, the parish hosted the GOYA Basketball Tournament for the Denver Diocese. Many retreats were held at the parish with special guest speakers. With the National Clergy Conference held in Lakeway, Texas in October 2005, Transfiguration parish hosted an Archbishop Pastoral Visit.  His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah, His Grace Bishop Savas and many clergy from around the U.S. celebrated Vespers followed by a community dinner. In August 2009, after 12 years of service, Reverend Jordan Brown was reassigned to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Houston, Texas. Reverend Michael Lambakis, assistant priest at Annunciation, was appointed by His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah to serve as new Proistamenos of Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, effective January 1, 2010.

Address:
414 Saint Stephens School Rd South
Austin, TX 78746

Phone:
Office: 512-329-6363
Fax: 512-329-6364

Email: office@transfiguration.org

Источник: transfiguration.org