Laboring in the Vineyard

Father Alexis Baldwin

Three new Orthodox communities have formed in the Rocky Mountain Deanery. Two missions, Holy Prophet Elijah and St. Tikhon Enlightener of North America, and an Orthodox mission community which meets at Agia Sophia Coffee House all hold weekly Divine Services. Each of these communities began as an outreach effort of Orthodox Christians associated with the Rocky Mountain deanery.

Holy Prophet Elijah Mission — Durango

For several years Orthodox Christians of the Four Corners region gathered once a month for worship and participation in the Church’s sacramental life. Initially established in Farmington, NM and serviced by priests from Albuquerque and Santa Fe, it was soon evident that most persons involved were from the Colorado side of the border. Efforts were accordingly re-focused to establish the mission in Durango, CO, upon which the mission came under the omophorion of Archbishop Benjamin.   Fr. Benjamin Huggins and his family arrived in Durango in July of 2013. For the first time in the rich indigenous cultural history of the “Four Corners”region, a small Orthodox community participates in a consistent cycle of services including all Feast Days, Vespers on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Sunday Divine Liturgy.

St Tikhon Enlightener of North America — Parker

St. Tikhon Enlightener of North America Mission began in December of 2012. A number of Orthodox Christians from Rocky Mountain Deanery parishes strategized to plant a mission in this far southeast Metro Denver community. The vision and goal of this community is to bring the Gospel of Christ to all those in Parker and the surrounding area, enabling them to encounter and experience His Holy Church.   The parish is sacrificially served by Priest Alexander Vallens. Presently they meet in a wonderfully suited neighborhood “clubhouse”, offering a weekly Sunday liturgy.

The Orthodox Mission at Agia Sophia — Colorado Springs

On Sunday January 26, the first Divine Liturgy was held at Agia Sophia Coffee House for a burgeoning mission community. The “mother parish” of Holy Theophany Church planned for two years to plant a mission in Colorado Springs. With nearly half a million people and only two Orthodox Churches, the city is ripe for additional mission work. Twenty-nine adults and children gathered for the inaugural service, followed by a potluck lunch. The founding participants consist primarily of members of Holy Theophany Church. Those gathered that day discussed the next steps of continued services and witness for the mission. Sunday Divine Liturgy is held weekly, along with weekly Friday morning services. A Vespers and discussion with Q & A occurs twice a month on Sunday nights, all at the coffee house. The vision of the mission is to bring the Gospel of Christ and His Church to those in the neighborhood. By offering services at the coffee house, patrons of the shop and people in the immediate area have an opportunity to encounter and experience Orthodox Christianity first hand in a familiar environment.