St. Thomas Orthodox Church
St. Thomas Antiochian Orthodox Church
St. Thomas Orthodox Church
View from the southeast
42°30′08″N 96°24′03″W / 42.5021°N 96.4007°W / 42.5021; -96.4007
Location
CountryUnited States
Language(s)English
DenominationEastern Orthodox
Membership58 (2023)
Weekly attendance20 (as on 2023-05-28)
Websitestthomassiouxcity.org
History
StatusParish church
Founded1916 (1916)
Founder(s)Syrian Orthodox Benevolent Society
DedicationThomas the Apostle
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Years built1949–1952
Groundbreaking1949-10-23
Completed1952-10-05
Specifications
Capacity225
Length35 metres (115 ft)
Nave length23 metres (75 ft)
Width18 metres (60 ft)
Nave width11 metres (36 ft)
Width across transepts5.5 metres (18 ft)
Number of floors3
Administration
ProvinceGreek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
ArchdioceseAntiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
DioceseDiocese of Wichita and Mid-America
DeaneryGreat Plains
Clergy
ArchbishopThe Most Rev. Metr. Saba (Esber)
RectorThe Rev. Fr. Peter Cox
St. Thomas Orthodox Church

St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Sioux City, Iowa is a parish of the Great Plains Deanery[1] of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America,[2] part of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America,[3][4] a constituent archdiocese of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.[5] Founded in 1916 to serve the Syrian and Lebanese immigrant community that existed in Sioux City at that time,[6]: 114  it is the oldest Orthodox parish in Sioux City[7] and has become a pan-Orthodox community with members from across the Siouxland region.

History

1895
The first Syrian families move to Sioux City.[8]
1905
Fr. Nicola Yanney of the Arab Mission of the Diocese of the Aleutians and North America of the Russian Orthodox Church performs the first Orthodox baptisms in Sioux City.[6]: 122 
1916
Representatives from twenty-five families[6]: 130  met on 26 June 1916[9] with Fr. Alia Hamaty who give them the Archdiocese's blessing to form the Syrian Orthodox Benevolent Society.[6] The aim of the society was to build an Orthodox parish in Sioux City and to establish an Orthodox cemetery. They soon purchased the first church building for St. Thomas at 6th St and Iowa St.[9]
1918
The parish moves the church building to a new location at 8th St and Iowa St.[9]
1928
The Benevolent Society establishes the St. Thomas Cemetery by purchasing land adjacent to Graceland Cemetery.[9] Graceland Cemetery itself had only been established in 1909; since 1953, Graceland Cemetery has been owned by the City of Sioux City.[10]
1930
Fr. Michael M. Yanney — nephew of Fr. Nicola Yanney — is appointed as the first full-time rector of St. Thomas[6]: 237  by Archbishop Victor (Abo-Assaly), the founding primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.[11] Serving until November 1953, he remains the longest-tenured rector in the parish's history.[6]: 237 [12]
1935
St. Thomas hosts its first Syrian-Lebanese Dinner. An event that would become popular throughout the Siouxland area, it would continue annually until 2014.[13][14][15][16][17][18]
1938
An English-language choir, believed to be the first in any Eastern Orthodox parish in the United States, debuts at St. Thomas.[9]
1940
In October 1940, the Divine Liturgy was first celebrated completely in English at St. Thomas; until then, it had only been celebrated in Arabic.[9]
1945
Property is purchased at 1100 Jones St for a new church building.[19]
1952
The congregation begins holding services in the basement of the new building in 1951 until the dedication of the completed building on 5 October 1952.[6]: 237 [20][21]
1969
St. Thomas drops the word "Syrian" from its name.[22]
1979
A new two-story addition is dedicated on 5 September 1976 containing classrooms, a meeting room, an office for the rector, and an expanded kitchen.[9]
2006
Fr. Tom Begley leaves after having served at St. Thomas for twenty-two years, becoming the second-longest-serving rector in the parish's history.[23]
2016
Over Labor Day weekend, the parish celebrates its centennial with a visit from Metropolitan Joseph.[24][25]

Today

Although, perhaps, best known for their food, both St. Thomas and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church are known for the blessing of the Missouri River,[26][27] performed annually in conjunction with the feast of Theophany.[28][29]

References

  1. ↑ "The Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America: Deanery Affiliation of its Fifty-One (51) Communities" (PDF). Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  2. ↑ "Parish Directory". Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Archived from the original on 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  3. ↑ Koehler, Michael (1999-01-23). "St. Thomas Orthodox Church install 'Annunciation' icon". Sioux City Journal. Vol. 135, no. 143. Sioux City, Iowa: Journal-Tribune Publishing. p. A1. ISSN 2689-5536. OCLC 1097150298. Retrieved 2022-03-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Diocese of Wichita & Mid-America". Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  5. ↑ "New York and all North America - Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East". Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. Archived from the original on 2022-02-06. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Essey, Basil (2019). Foreword. Apostle to the Plains: The Life of Father Nicola Yanney. By The Saint Raphael Clergy Brotherhood. Chesterton, Indiana: Ancient Faith Ministries. ISBN 978-19-449676-5-9. LCCN 2019303526. OCLC 1248689801.
  7. ↑ Foster, Jackie (2016-04-29). "Orthodox Church celebrates Easter in Siouxland". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01.
  8. ↑ A Tribute… to the Old Church in the New World: St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, San Francisco. 1976. p. 97. OCLC 82908143 – via Google Books.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "St. Thomas Orthodox Church celebrates 75th Anniversary". Sioux City Journal. Vol. 127, no. 305. Sioux City, Iowa: Journal-Tribune Publishing. 1991-06-30. p. A3. ISSN 2689-5536. OCLC 1097150298. Retrieved 2022-03-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Cemetery Information | City of Sioux City". City of Sioux City. Archived from the original on 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  11. ↑ Namee, Matthew (2014-07-14). "Remembrances of Archbishop Victor Abo-Assaly". Orthodox History. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  12. ↑ Yanney, Charese (2016-08-14). "Family ties to St. Thomas Orthodox Church run deep". Sioux City Journal. Vol. 152, no. 333. Sioux City, Iowa: Lee Enterprises. p. B1. ISSN 2689-5536. OCLC 1097150298. Retrieved 2022-03-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Horlyk, Earl (2014-11-26). "150 Icons: A Mediterranean tradition dating to 1930s". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01.
  14. ↑ Maskel, Jeremy (2008-10-18). "Congregation Comes Together with Food". KMEG. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  15. ↑ Zerschling, Lynn (2018-10-14). "25 Years Ago: New Hillcrest Shopping Center opens in former Food-4-Less site". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01.
  16. ↑ "Syrian Dinner Raises Money for St. Thomas". KMEG. Sinclair Broadcast Group. 2008-10-19. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  17. ↑ "St. Thomas Orthodox Church Hosts 80-Year-Old Tradition". KCAU-TV. Nexstar Media Group. 2011-10-30. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  18. ↑ Horlyk, Earl (2017-09-09). "Syrian-Lebanese dinner returns Sunday after 3-year break". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29.
  19. ↑ Google (2022-03-01). "St. Thomas Orthodox Church" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  20. ↑ "St. Thomas Orthodox Church to Observe Anniversary". Sioux City Journal. Vol. 133, no. 50. Sioux City, Iowa: Journal-Tribune Publishing. 1966-10-09. p. 8. ISSN 2689-5536. OCLC 1097150298. Retrieved 2022-03-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Horlyk, Earl (2014-10-26). "A taste of home: St. Thomas Church offers authentic Mideastern meals". Sioux City Journal. Vol. 151, no. 44. Sioux City, Iowa: Lee Enterprises. p. C5. ISSN 2689-5536. OCLC 1097150298. Retrieved 2022-03-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ Cook, Cathie (1969-10-06). "Archbishop Saliba Would Unite All Orthodox Churches in Country". Sioux City Journal. Vol. 142, no. 296. Sioux City, Iowa: Journal-Tribune Publishing. p. 9. ISSN 2689-5536. OCLC 1097150298. Retrieved 2022-03-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ Hayworth, Bret (2006-06-24). "Moving on". Sioux City Journal. Vol. 142, no. 296. Sioux City, Iowa: Lee Enterprises. p. A8. ISSN 2689-5536. OCLC 1097150298. Retrieved 2022-03-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ Abdallah, John, ed. (May 2017). "St. Thomas, Sioux City, Celebrates Centennial". The Word. Vol. 61, no. 4. Englewood, New Jersey: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. pp. 27–29. ISSN 0043-7964. OCLC 1950817.
  25. ↑ Mcghee, Tyler (2016-09-04). "St. Thomas Orthodox Church is celebrating their 100th anniversary with Metropolitan Joseph". KMEG. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Archived from the original on 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  26. ↑ "Eastern Orthodox church priests bless Missouri River". Sioux City Journal. 2017-01-06. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29.
  27. ↑ Dunn, Sean (2022-01-08). "Orthodox priests in Siouxland bless Missouri River". KTIV. Gray Television. Archived from the original on 2022-01-08. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  28. ↑ Siouxland News (2017-01-06). "Annual River Blessing takes place on Missouri River". KMEG. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Archived from the original on 2017-01-08. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  29. ↑ Denysenko, Nicholas (2018-01-04). "Theophany, Blessing Waters, and Conversion". Pray Tell. Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2022-03-01.

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