St. Paul’s Las Vegas 25th Anniversary

On the weekend of May 18-19, the clergy and faithful of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, gathered around His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the parish. On October 19, 1988, 118 men, women and children came to talk about the future of an all-English Orthodox Christian parish. The parish would be the first, and only, all-English Orthodox parish in the Las Vegas Valley. The meeting was most enthusiastic, and a decision was quickly made to establish such a parish under the authority of His Grace, Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) in the Diocese of the West, Orthodox Church in America.

The very first liturgy of the new parish, subsequently placed under the patronage of the Holy Apostle Paul, was celebrated on Sunday, November 13, 1988, the Feastday of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople.

After a search for property, a suitable parcel was found on Annie Oakley Drive and purchased. Construction of the church began in 1994, and a beautiful temple was constructed modeled after the seventh-century Church of Saint Hripsime in Etchmiadzin, Armenia, which remains standing to this day. The church was consecrated by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius, and His Grace, Bishop Tikhon, on May 13, 1995.

The anniversary celebration began with Great Vespers on Saturday evening. Following the service everyone was invited to a very casual, but elegant, wine and cheese social in the church hall. The friendly and informal atmosphere lent itself well to a long lingering visit amongst all present.

On Sunday morning, Archpriest John Dresko, the Rector of St. Paul’s, greeted His Eminence and they concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with about 250 present. The archbishop ordained Reader Anthony Pluta III, a son of the parish, to the subdiaconate. The requisite pictures were taken of the service and the parishioners following the service and then everyone retired to Sunset Gardens, where a wonderful festive banquet was held. We remember all those that have gone before us who helped make this parish possible and thank God for those stewards and laborers who continue to help grow St. Paul’s. We look forward to the next 25 years!