Who We Are
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church was founded in 1917 by Russian immigrants in the Kansas City, Kansas neighborhood known as Russian Hill. Over the last 95 years, the parish has grown from a small Russian-speaking parish to one whose members are primarily American-born, English-speaking converts to Orthodoxy. Although the people who have converted to Orthodoxy come from many varying backgrounds, the most common is those who have come from an Evangelical Protestant tradition.
The growth of the parish led to the sale of the small Russian Hill church in the late 1990’s, and to the construction of much larger temple in Overland Park, Kansas at the corner of West 119th Street and Pflumm Road. The building was completed in 2002 and the first service held in the new church was on Palm Sunday. The church was consecrated by the late Archbishop Job in 2007 as the parish celebrated its 90th Anniversary.
At present, Holy Trinity has around 170 adult members and well over 100 children under the age of 18. We continue to grow by God’s grace and members are committed to sharing the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There are many active ministries led by the faithful of the church and members are always looking for new ways to learn more about their own faith and to teach others.
The beautiful iconography of the church has been done by the hand of Fr. Theodore Koufos in the Novgorod style. Twelve new icons were installed in December of 2016 including, the Raising of Lazarus, the Myrhhbearing Women at the Tomb of Christ, Transfiguration, and Pentecost, Ss. Constantine & Helen, Ss. Cyril & Methodius, St. Elizabeth the Grand Dutchess & St. Maria of Parish, St. Mary of Egypt & St. Zosimas, St. John of Chicago, St. Alexis of Wilkes Barre, St. Herman of Alaska, and St. Peter the Aleut.
Our Clergy
Very Reverend Timothy Sawchak
RECTOR
Fr Timothy was assigned as the rector of Holy Trinity Church on April 1, 2005. He graduated from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in 1993 and was ordained priest in August of 1994. He was rector at Holy Trinity Church in New Salem, PA from 1994-1997 and rector at Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Lakewood, OH from 1997-2005. Fr. Tim graduated from the University of Kansas in 1990 with degrees in Architecture and History. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children: Benjamin and Nathaniel.
Visitors unfamiliar with the Orthodox style of worship will benefit from reading A Visitor’s Guide to the Divine Liturgy. Feel free to contact our parish priest, Fr. Tim Sawchak, or our lay leaders with any questions about ministries and activites at Holy Trinity parish.
Very Reverend Christopher Rowe
ASSOCIATE PRIEST
Fr. Chris came to Kansas City and Holy Trinity in 2005. Previously he served a parish in Allentown, PA and has lived in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Illinois. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2002 and the deaconate in 1997 after attending St. Tikhon’s Seminary and completing the OCA Late Vocations program. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a BA in Journalism/Mass Communication. Fr. Chris is the chaplain for the Kansas City area Eastern Orthodox Youth Camp (EOYC). He works for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center in their Development Department and loves traveling the country sharing how OCMC is working to share the Good News of our Risen Lord. Fr. Chris is happily married and has two children and one grandchild.
