Our History
September 17, 1992 -- Fr Philip Nixon, of Ben Lomand, California, met with Benjamin and Winifred Roberts, of Twin Falls, Idaho, to organize an Antiochian Orthodox Christian Mission in Twin Falls.
September 1993 -- Weekly Vespers service held in the Roberts’ home. KMVT-TV filmed the service for the evening news.
October 26, 1993 -- First parish council meeting with Fr Philip is held in the home of Ben and Winifred Roberts, with Greg and Mary Lou Panatopoulos, Kurt and Karen Hefner, and Christina Limberakis.
November 1993 -- Festal services begin at the Roberts’ home.
December 19, 1993-- First Divine Liturgy of St. Ignatius Orthodox Mission is held in the chapel of the Twin Falls YMCA.
[Date] -- Bishop Joseph, auxiliary bishop assigned to the Western Region of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, performs Great Lent service.
Feb 26, 1996 – The last Divine Liturgy is held at the YMCA chapel.
1996 – Above is the property at 1830 Addison Avenue East as it looked when it was purchased. The former realty office is converted into the parish house, and the garage is renovated to become the temple. Carol Oakes of Boise is commissioned to paint the icons for the iconostasis. Ben Roberts added the gold leafing and oversaw the design of the altar, prothesis, fan holders, processional candle racks, designed the iconostasis, the Holy Table, and bishop’s throne.
February 2, 1997 -- First service held at 1830 Addison Avenue East. Forty people attended, Fr Philip Nixon serves as the first priest.
July 1998 (or thereabouts) -- Bishop Joseph anoints the church, and consecrates the altar and iconostasis. Relics of the Apostles St. Paul and St. Andrew are placed in the Holy Table. These were given by Fr. Simeon, O.S.B., of the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome, Idaho.
On this same date, Mr. Brian Patrick O'Grady was ordained to the office of Deacon at this new altar. Fr. Deacon Patrick is assigned to lead the Boise mission, while being attached to St. Ignatius Church.
May 27, 2000 - Fr. Deacon Patrick is ordained to the rank of presbyter and assigned as pastor of Holy Transfiguration Mission in Boise. This makes St. Ignatius the source of a new parish, 130 miles away.
July, 2001 - Fr. Patrick B. O'Grady is assigned as pastor of St. Ignatius Church while Fr. Philip Nixon is on leave for one year.
March 31, 2002 - Mr. Mark Fenn is tonsured subdeacon, at St. Ignatius Church, and assigned to the Boise mission.
July 2002 - Father Patrick O'Grady is appointed rector of St. Ignatius Church by Bishop Joseph, as Fr. Philip Nixon assumes the pastorate of Holy Resurrection Church in Tuscon, Arizona. During Fr. Patrick's pastorate, subdeacon Mark Fenn of Boise is ordained as deacon (January 18, 2005) and assists Fr. Patrick in the care of both parishes, in Boise and in Twin Falls.
January 11, 2006 - Fr. Deacon Mark Fenn is ordained as presbyter and appointed rector of Holy Transfiguration Mission, in Boise, by Bishop Joseph.
January 2006 - Heiromonk Mark (Kerr) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate arrives from New York to reside in the parish of St. Ignatius at the invitation of Fr. Patrick and with the blessing of Bishop Joseph.
February 19, 2007 - Fr. Patrick B. O'Grady is transferred to St. Peter the Apostle Church in San Dimas, California. Hieromonk Mark assumes pastoral charge of St. Ignatius Church.
May 2007 -- Renovation of parish house and sanctuary begins.