Diocese: Diocese of New England
Deanery: Connecticut Deanery
Address
305 Washington St
New Britain, Connecticut 06051
Mailing address:
PO Box 2876
New Britain, CT 06050-2876
Website: htocnb.org
Office: 860-223-1976
Parish Contacts
Lay Leadership
Directions
From the East
I-84 westbound to exit 37 (Fiennemann Rd). Turn right off exit, going back over highway and follow into New Britain (it becomes Farmington Ave). You reach a large fork after about 2-3 miles - bear right (Washington St) to the Church (on your left).
From the West
I-84 eastbound to fork, and take Route-72 eastbound into New Britain. Take Route 72 to Columbus Ave. Go straight through exit to the third light (including the light at the exit). Turn left on Washington St, follow about three and a half blocks to the Church (on your right).
From the North
I-91 south to I-84 westbound. Follow directions from the east.
From the South
Take Route 9 into New Britain exit 26 (Downtown New Britain). Go straight through exit to fourth light (including exit light). Turn right on Washington St and follow about three and a half blocks to the Church (on your right).
Schedule of Services
4:00 PM Great Vespers.
Saturday Evening
9:00 Divine Liturgy.
Sunday Morning
6:00 PM Vesperal Liturgy.
Eves of Great Feasts
Please visit our website for a complete listing of upcoming services and events and the monthly calendar.
Parish Background
A group of Carpatho-Russian immigrants founded the SS Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood after the arrival of John J Hamilla to New Britain in 1899. This brotherhood led to the founding of SS Cyril and Methodius Othodox Church with the blessing of Archbishop Tikhon (Bellavin) of New York. Funds were raised, property bought, and on Christmas Day, 1902, the new Church building was consecrated by Archbishop Tikhon. This church building, located on Beatty St, is still in use today, although it has gone through other ownership. Following the consecration, Fr Ptolemy Timchenko was assigned as the parish’s first resident priest.
In 1907, the assignment of Fr Constantine Buketoff energized the parish. The parish choir was formed, an adult discussion group on the Faith was begun on Sunday evenings, and normal attendance grew to about 90-120 people. Membership grew rapidly, as there was no other Orthodox churches in central or northern Connecticut. The midnight services for Pascha (Easter) regularly drew about 500 people. Fr Buketoff began regular missionary work, which led to the eventual founding of Ss Cyril and Methodius Church in Terryville (1908), Ss Peter and Paul Church in Meriden (1911), and All Saints Church in Hartford (1914). He was assigned to Hartford in 1914. Other parishes which find the spark to their beginning in New Britain include: St Nicholas Church in Norwich (1915), Holy Trinity Church in Willimantic (1916), and Ss Peter and Paul Church in Springfield, Massechusetts (1916).
In 1913, the need for a larger church building was evident. Property was purchased on Washington St, the present location, and a new church building constructed. The church was consecrated to the Holy Trinity, which gave the parish its present name. Bishop Raphael (Hawaweeny) came to New Britain when the new church building was built in 1913 to bless the cornerstone. The parish is truly blessed to have the presence of two of the saintly American Orthodox pioneers (Tikhon and Raphael) involved in its growth. The beautiful, five-domed Russian-Byzantine church remains the house of worship to this day.
In 1921, an epic era in the history of Holy Trinity Church began with the assignment of Fr Joseph Dankevich as pastor. Through the crisis of the Russian Revolution and the administrative chaos that prevailed through the Depression, through World War II, into the depths of the Cold War, Father Dankevich served Holy Trinity Church. He died in 1956, still the pastor of Holy Trinty Church. He is buried in New Britain at the church cemetary and the present day Church School is dedicated to his memory.
Fr Sergius Kuharsky, Fr Konstantin Kaminsky, Fr Paul Lazor and Fr Sergei Bouteneff followed in the years after the death of Fr Dankevich. Through the 1960’s. 70’s and 80’s, the parish went through the movement from the “old style” Julian Calendar to the “new style” Revised Julian Calendar, the translation from Church Slavonic to English and the development and growth of the education programs.
Father John Dresko arrived on September 1, 1989. A successful stewardship program was instituted in 1991 and serves as a model for the Stewardship and Leadership training module for the Orthodox Church in America. In 2002 the parish celebrated its 100th Anniversary and in 2004 we celebrated Fr John’s 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. Fr John served Holy Trinity for 16 years before leaving to become the Director of Development and Stewardship for the OCA.
With the arrival in March 2006 of a new pastor, Fr. David Koles, the parish, currently comprised of 130 adults and 25 children, will have new challenges ahead as we continue into our second century. The next milestone for our parish will be the 100th Anniversary of the consecration of our current temple in 2013.
