Diocese: Diocese of the South
Deanery: Southcentral Deanery
Address
181 Preston Rd
Denison, Texas 75020
Mailing address:
PO Box 1083
Denison, TX 75021-1083
Website: stpauldenison.org
Office: 903-462-0650
Parish Contacts
Directions
From Dallas, McKinney, Sherman and points south
Take US Highway 75 North to exit 65, FM 691. Turn left heading west, go two miles to the traffic light at Preston Rd. Turn right (north), the Church driveway is 200 yards on the left.
From Durant, OK Dennison, and points north
Head south on Highway 75 south to exit 65, FM691. Turn right heading west, go two miles to the traffic light at Preston Road. Turn right (north), the Church driveway is 200 yards on the left.
Schedule of Services
Check the calendar on the parish website.
5:00 pm Vespers
Saturday Evening
9:05 AM Hours; 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Sunday Morning
6:00 PM Vespers
Wednesday Evening
6:00 PM Great Vespers
Eves of Great Feasts
7:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Mornings of Great Feasts
Parish Background
On November 16th, 2002 Archbishop Dmitri gave Fr. Michael Storozuk the task of exploring the possibilities of starting a new mission in the Sherman/ Denison area. Initial contact was made with Robert and Karen Jones, Orthodox Christians living in Denison. Names began to be collected and discussion about organizing took place. On January 18th, 2003 an organizational meeting held at the Old Katy Railroad Depot in Denison. There were 14 people present, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike. Because of the large and enthusiastic response a liturgy was scheduled.
The first Divine Liturgy was served in borrowed space at the Old Katy Railroad Depot in Denison on January 26, 2003. There were 18 people in attendance with many visiting from our mother parish, St Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas. From this point on Liturgy was served every week. In the middle of February the liturgical schedule was expanded to include Wednesday Vespers and again expanded to include Saturday vespers/vigil on the first of March. From this point on a full schedule of services was served each week which included the Canon of St Andrew, and all of the services for Great Lent, Presanctified Liturgy and the full holy week/Pascha services.
Palm Sunday was the last time we were able to use the Old Katy Railroad Depot so we moved to the home of Robert and Karen Jones. In February a search was begun to find a permanent location for our mission. With the move out of the Depot the search was intensified. Discussions and suggestions about buying or renting were compared to building our own facility and it was decided that constructing our own temple to our specifications was the most feasible and practical solution.
In August of 2003 a 2.009 acre property was found on Preston Road. It was the best piece of land located thus far. The search continued so as to have something to compare against. After vespers on September 29th at a meeting of all members it was decided by majority vote to enter into negotiations to purchase the land. After a series of offers and counter offers, an agreement was reached to purchase the land. The closing on the land was November 7th.
At this point, plans for construction hit a fever pace. Because of limited resources and the availability of the right talent we decided to build this church ourselves! At first we were going to build a simple rectangular building that would serve as a temporary chapel and hall until such time as we could build a proper temple but as the practicalities set in, and at the prompting of Archbishop Dmitri “try to make your first building at least look like a church”, we found that it would be just as easy to construct a proper church building now.
Using as a basis a plan drawn in 1847 by St Jacob Netsvetov for a church built in Ikogmiut, Alaska, and approved by St Innocent, we made a materials list and began construction. The first loads of Red River sand for the building pad were brought in on November 22nd, 2003 and construction began, less than ten months after our first liturgy. Sixteen weeks to the day after the sand was brought in, the first liturgy was served. Archbishop Dmitri came on March 20th, 2004 to bless the temple as well as to serve the first Divine Liturgy.
During August 2008, construction began on the St Herman of Alaska Activity Center. This 2500 square foot building provides the parish with a large meeting / dining room, large kitchen, classrooms, storage space and an office. On April 10th, 2009, Archbishop Dmitri blessed the activity center after the Presanctified Liturgy. This activity center has provided the opportunity for Sunday fellowship, receptions, retreats and seminars for the local Orthodox Churches. With much love for our retired Archpastor, the St. Herman of Alaska Activity Center was dedicated to Archbishop Dmitri whose missionary vision and spirit made our parish possible.