St. Seraphim Cathedral (Dallas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Seraphim Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Saint Seraphim Cathedral
|
|
| Location | 4208 Wycliff Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219 |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Orthodox Church of America |
| Website | https://www.stseraphim.org/ |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of the South |
| Metropolis | Metropolis of the South |
Saint Seraphim Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox church located in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas, Texas. It is a very important church because it is one of the main churches for the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of the South. The cathedral is named after Saint Seraphim of Sarov, a famous saint.
Contents
History of Saint Seraphim Cathedral
The story of Saint Seraphim Cathedral began with a small group of people who wanted to create a new church. They wanted a place where services could be held in English.
Starting the Church in Dallas
In April 1954, a small group of people who had joined the Orthodox Faith decided to start a new church. This group included Father Ilya Rudolph Rangel, Subdeacon Dmitri Royster, and Miss Dmitra Royster. They wanted to create an English-speaking Orthodox mission in Dallas.
They looked for a building that would be good for their new church. They found a property at 3734 McKinney Avenue and Blackburn Street. The building was a two-story house with eight rooms.
Getting Help to Buy the Property
The group did not have enough money to buy the property, which cost $15,000. So, Father Ilya and Subdeacon Dmitri asked for help from Mr. Paul Raigorodsky. He was a member of another church nearby.
.jpg)
Mr. Raigorodsky helped them get a loan from a bank in Dallas. This allowed them to buy the property for Saint Seraphim's Church.
Early Services and Renovations
English-language services started in June 1954. Father Ilya led services like Sunday evening prayers and a special church service called the Divine Liturgy once a month. Father Ilya and Subdeacon Dmitri built a special screen for icons, called an iconostasis, and made other religious items. They set up a chapel on the first floor of the house.
Later, on November 6, 1954, Subdeacon Dmitri became a priest. He then became the main priest, or rector, of Saint Seraphim's Church.
In January 1955, the church building was greatly improved. Both floors of the house were redecorated, and new walls were put in. Another priest, Father Hilarion Madison, joined the church in December 1954 to help Father Dmitri.
Expanding the Mission
In March 1955, Father Dmitri and Father Hilarion began to spread their mission to Fort Worth. They held services there to help more Orthodox people in that city.
To better serve people of all backgrounds, Saint Seraphim's Church decided to get its own property. They bought a house at 4203 Newton Avenue. After many improvements, this house became a chapel, meeting room, office, and kitchen. This building was used until a new church was built in 1961. The old house then became a parish hall for gatherings.
In 1962, the church bought the house next door. This house was planned to be used as a home for the priest, called a rectory. By 1963, the church had grown from just 3 people to about 125 members. About 75 people attended the Sunday service regularly. The church also had a Sunday School for children.
Saint Seraphim Cathedral Today
In July 1978, the Diocese of the South was created. Because of this, Saint Seraphim's Church became a cathedral. This means it is a very important church for the bishop of the diocese. Bishop Dmitri, who helped start the church, became its first bishop.
As of August 2025, the main priest of the cathedral is Bishop Gerasim (Eliel) of Ft. Worth. He also helps manage the entire Diocese.
The cathedral has continued to grow. A new chapel and bell tower were planned for many years. The chapel building is now finished. It is connected to the main church building and is named after the Resurrection. This chapel is also the resting place for Archbishop Dmitri, who founded the Diocese.
