Diocese: Diocese of the South
Deanery: Carolina Deanery
Address
1700 Mineral Springs Rd
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 2268
Davidson, NC 28036-5268
Website: holyvirgin.net
Church: 704-807-0800
Parish Contacts
Lay Leadership
Directions
General Location
The Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mission is located in Charlotte, NC, in the University City area. We are located near I-485, I-85 and I-77.
From Intetstate 85
Exit 41, Sugar Creek Rd. If travelling from the south, turn left onto Sugar Creek Rd; if travelling from the north, turn right onto Sugar Creek Rd. Proceed approximately one (1) mile to the first traffic light and turn right. The church is located approximately 1/4 mile on the left.
From I-77 (north or south)
Take the Harris Blvd exit (east) and continue until W Sugar Creek Rd. Turn right onto W Sugar Creek Rd and continue for a few miles. You will see signs for Derita. Make a left onto Mineral Springs Rd (Methodist church on the corner). Our church is located 1/4 mile on the left hand side of the road.
Schedule of Services
All services are in English. Please check website for schedule updates.
5:30 PM Great Vespers (Confessions heard before and after Great Vespers).
Saturday Evening
8:45 AM Hours, 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy, followed by fellowship/luncheon and church school (Sept-May).
Sunday Morning
For feast days and other liturgical services, please visit the Monthly Calendar on the parish website.
Please call Fr Bill to arrange Baptisms, Marriages, Memorials, and for counseling.
Parish Background
The Nativity of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Mission is part of the Diocese of the South, and of the Orthodox Church in America. It is also a Church which is in communion with all Canonical Orthodox Churches.
After much correspondence between M/M Steven Bock and the Diocese of the South, Orthodox Church in America and letters published in the “Dawn.” On September 7, 1981, a group of nine men and women met and gave birth to this new mission and named it “The Nativity of the Holy Virgin” for the feast which was to be celebrated the next day. The people present for this important and historical event were Steve and Monya Bock, James and Nadine Doyle, Anna Havron, Vladimir Zhenia Morasan, and John and Lila Shabashow. Through correspondence with the VRev George Gladky, a date had been set for the new mission’s first Divine Liturgy on September 26, 1981.
The first Divine Liturgy was held at the Chapel of the Myers Park United Methodist Church with VRev George Gladky officiating. Attending this Liturgical event were Steve and Monya Bock with son Mikel, James and Nadine Doyle with children Jason and Nicole, Anna Havron, Debra McCarn, Vladimir and Zeniah Morasan, Debra Morasan and son Sergius, John and Lila Shabasow with daughter Lisa, Olga Weiss, Joe F Radovanik, Edward and Fadia Awad, Taher Messih and Mahfouz “Mack” Salama.
From this small gathering a nucleus for the new Mission was developed and they met for Divine Liturgy in different locales. The first is as mentioned above, then they met at Derita Elementary School Gym, a classroom at Queens College, and the Junior League Building, until a new house of worship was built at 1700 Mineral Springs Road in 1986.
Several priests traveled to Charlotte to nurture this budding Orthodox flower: Fr George Gladky from Miami, FL; Fr Joseph Scheller from Norfolk, VA; Fr Damian from the Monastery of the Glorious Ascension in Resaca, GA; and other priests from surrounding states as well as a Naval Chaplain. They came twice a month in the early days of the Mission’s life and then gradually increased the number of times until the Divine Liturgy was being celebrated weekly, either on Saturdays or Sundays.
On Sunday October 17, 1982 Fr Seraphim Storheim (now Bishop Seraphim of the Archdiocese of Canada) began a one year assignment at the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mission. During his assignment Fr Seraphim was instrumental in the purchase of land on Mineral Springs Rd. Fr Seraphim celebrated his last Divine Liturgy on December 11, 1983. He was followed by Fr Theodore Panchak on Christmas Eve 1983. Fr Ted, a newly ordained priest, who was completing his theological studies at St Vladimir’s Seminary, returned to the Mission during his vacations during his last year at school, and while in school, other priests came to Charlotte to keep the mission going. After completing his studies, Fr Ted began his first assignment at the Nativity of the Holy Virgin in Charlotte, where he took upon the responsibility to begin construction of the Mission’s new home.
The first Service held in the new home was a Vespers Service in December 1986. In 1987, Fr Ted was transferred to Norfolk, VA. He was followed by Fr Jacob Kulp, who was followed by Fr Dionisois (Dennis) Smith. During his stay Fr Dennis was instrumental for the enclosing of the chapel area and the building of the Iconostasis. After Fr Dennis left, Fr Ignatius Crockett was assigned to the Mission and served until 1994. He was followed by Fr Henry Paul Boisvert. The present priest is Fr William Mills, who has been the pastor since 2000.
Adjacent to the parish is a newly renovated Education Building that contains 8 classrooms for church school.