Diocese: Diocese of the South
Deanery: Southcentral Deanery
Address
15710 S Peoria Ave
Bixby, Oklahoma 74008
Mailing address:
PO Box 906
Glenpool, OK 74033-0906
Website: holyapostlesorthodox.org
Office: 918-638-9854
Parish Contacts
Bixby, OK 74008
Directions
From the North or South on US-75
From Highway 75, turn east on Highway 67 (151st street). Travel two miles, then turn right (south) on S. Peoria Ave. The Church will be on the right
Schedule of Services
5:00 PM Great Vespers and Confessions.
Saturday Evening
9:10 Hours, followed by 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Sunday Morning
6:30 PM Daily Vespers, followed by a class.
Wednesday Evening
6:30 PM Great Vespers.
Eves of Great Feasts
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.
Mornings of Great Feasts
For a complete list of upcoming services, please visit the Monthly Calendar on the parish website.
Parish Background
In March of 2003, John Sames (our first Senior Warden) and George Michalopulos approached His Eminence Archbishop Dmitri of the possibility of starting an OCA mission in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This desire to approach His Eminence followed several visits to the Saint Seraphim Cathedral and contact there with many gracious clergy and parishioners. During that visit Vladyka asked several questions about the Russian and Ukrainian population in Tulsa: How many were there? How many were Orthodox? How many had become members of other denominations? Were there any that were unchurched? Where were they located?
After careful consideration, His Eminence saw that there was a need for a mission in south or east Tulsa and gave his permission to start making outreach to these people. In this regard, the mission was helped tremendously by Taras Tikhomirov who has excellent contacts within the expatriate Russian community in the greater Tulsa area. Within a short period of time, we met with several Russian ÃÂmigrÃÂs and developed a core group of young, like-minded people, many of whom have long wanted a Russian-style church in Tulsa.
In time, a few other Orthodox Christians from the established parishes in Tulsa asked about the OCA and started attending Saint Seraphim’s in Dallas quite regularly. Like us, these individuals had an enthusiasm spreading the word of Orthodoxy. Before long, we had about 20 or so people who became moved about the prospect of joining the project. Still, we were not yet official and the diocese had not made a decision as of whether to proceed. When Vladyka saw the very real interest and need for a south Tulsa mission, he gave us his blessing with one proviso: His Eminence, in his wisdom, asked that he first come to Tulsa to personally meet with both priests from the established parishes to inform them of the inauguration of this mission. And so, in early June of 2003, Archbishop Dmitri met with Father Bill Christ and Deacon John Kontogiannis of Holy Trinity (Father George Eber of the Saint Antony’s was out of town) and told them of his plans. Both Fathers Bill and John were gracious to His Eminence and offered many suggestions as to how he could make this mission succeed. Vladyka incorporated many of these suggestions in our charter and bade us proceed with love and unity.
Beginning from that summer, Fr. Seraphim Hipsh would drive up as often as possible from Dallas in order to serve the fledgling mission. Fr. Seraphim’s inspired guidance in every field, from the choir to the search for land, laid the foundation for the future work of the mission. In the summer of 2004, Fr. Seraphim was reassigned, and Fr. Ambrose Arrington, a recent graduate of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, was assigned as Priest-in-charge. Fr. Ambrose also lived in the Dallas area, and began driving to Tulsa every weekend to serve Holy Apostles. In November of 2004, Fr. Ambrose and his family were finally able to move to Tulsa, and only a week later the mission purchased 7.8 acres of land just south of the city. Construction of phase I - a freestanding Chapel dedicated to St. Matthew the Apostle and an all purpose building - was completed in the fall of 2007. Future plans include the construction of a large temple dedicated to the Holy Apostles and the establishment of other missions in Northeast Oklahoma.
These are truly exciting times at Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission, and all are invited to come and see the tremendous work that the Holy Spirit is accomplishing in Tulsa.