We are an Orthodox Christian Church serving the Joliet community for over a century. We are a parish of the Orthodox Church in America, Diocese of the Midwest.
If you are visitor, feel free to ask Fr. Mykola or Dn. Dave (Or reach out ahead of time) for any assistance you may need or questions about Orthodoxy.
Our general service schedule is as follows:
| Service | Date | Time |
| Vespers | Saturday | 5:00 pm |
| Divine Liturgy | Sunday | 10:00 am |
Special service times are posted in the calendar.
Parish Background
Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church is a parish in the Diocese of the Midwest of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). It has been officially serving Joliet, IL since September 1907. Although 1907 is regarded as its founding, services had been held in various homes since 1905. Because of oppression and economic conditions in the early 1900s, many people emigrated from Europe, and it was these immigrants who formed the first St. Nicholas parish, made up primarily of Russians, Ukrainians, Greeks and Serbians.
1905 “St. Nicholas parish in Joliet was organized by Carpatho-Russians who came to work in the steel mills. One of the founders, Luke Pinchak, had been converted to Orthodoxy by Father Toth (on May, 1994, Toth was glorified as Saint Alexis of Wilkes-Barre by the Orthodox Church in America) in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He told the other settlers about the Orthodox faith and made arrangements in his home for celebration of the first Divine Liturgy by an Orthodox priest in Joliet (1905). The first Divine Liturgy is celebrated in the home of Luke Pinchak by the Rev. John Kochuroff, the builder of the present Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago. Father John Kochuroff (on December 1994, was glorified as Saint Fr. John by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church) came from Chicago to celebrate the liturgy and encourage the people to organize a brotherhood and a build a small chapel.
At present, St. Nicholas has over a few dozen members with many friends of the parish in attendance. We are a growing church community worshiping God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in the 2000+-year-old Tradition of the Apostles.· Our current organizations include the St Nicholas Ladies’ Aid and Altar Circle, along with the St Nicholas Brotherhood. Likewise, for the children a church school program is provided and lessons are held every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy. St. Nicholas parish also has an extensive library for those who wish to learn more about their religion. Additionally, bible study classes are held on a bi-weekly basis.
Parish Historical Timeline
- 1906 The Brotherhood Lodge, Lodge 81 of the Russian Orthodox Catholic Mutual Aid Society is formed, with Luke Pinchak, Vasil Hwastiak, Roman Padley and Max Tarnowsky among its first members. Three lots on the corner of Franklin and Clay Streets are purchased.
- 1907 A house was remodeled as a chapel and consecrated in 1907 at Clay and Franklin Streets. From that date, Father Michael Potochney of Streator, Illinois, began to serve the church on a regular basis” (Orthodox America 1794-1976 p.120).
- 1911 A second lodge is formed – Lodge 113, called the Transfiguration Lodge.
- 1912 Father Potochney dies, and Father Vasile Kolesnikoff becomes the new priest.
- 1914 A parish house is purchased and moved to the lot at Clay and Franklin Streets.
- 1916 Father Theodore Migdal becomes pastor, and work begins to complete the new iconostasis.
- 1917 The new iconostas is blessed by Bishop Alexander Menolovsky: the church debt is paid.
- 1918 The Greeks separate from St. Nicholas to form the All Saints Orthodox Church in Joliet.
- 1919 Father peter Semkoff becomes the new priest. The parish house is remodeled, with the first floor becoming the parish hall, and the second floor the pastor’s home.
- 1926 Father Basil Petretsky become the new priest.
- 1927 The Serbian separate form St. Nicholas to form St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Joliet.
- 1928 Father Paul Razkazoff becomes the parish priest, and organizes a church choral and music society.
- 1931 Father Constantine Popoff becomes pastor, remaining for fourteen years.
- 1939 Ladies Aid and Altar Circle is formed.
- 1945 Father Igumen Pachomy Delman becomes the new parish priest.
- 1946 Father Vladimir Borichevsky is appointed as the new priest, introducing English into the Divine Liturgy. The church hall and parish home are renovated and enlarged, with the majority of work being done by John Platko, Sr. The camping to build a new church is launched. The Joliet R Club Chapter 151 of the Federated Russian Orthodox Club is formed.
- 1945 Extensive remodeling is done to the church, including the installation of pews and a choir loft.
- 1946 St Nicholas parish considered building a larger church. A building fund was established, and a pledge system was underway.
- 1954 Matushka Tatiana Elchninoff is commissioned to write the six icons for iconostasis over a three-year period.
- 1955 The floor of church is tiled and carpet is installed in the in front of the iconostasis. Father Leonty Utkin is temporarily assigned.
- 1956 An envelope system of donation to the church is implemented; the St. Nicholas Church School is formed. Father John Kuchta becomes the new pastor.
- 1957 The parish hall is remodeled with a new façade, adding an upstairs porch plus a new entrance and cloak room.
- 1958 Father John Kuchta begins to celebrate one Divine Liturgy per month in English.
- 1959 Stephen Platko is hired as the full-time choir director. A 2.5 acre parcel of land is purchased on Barber Lane for a new church building. The St. Nicholas Men’s Club and the Junior R Club are formed.
- 1964 The ground of the building site is blessed. Construction begins on the rectory.
- 1965 On May 30th, groundbreaking ceremonies are held at the building site, 1000 Barber Lane and construction begins.
- 1966 On September 25th, the new St. Nicholas Church is consecrated.
- 1968 St. Nicholas Church adopts the revised Julian calendar.
- 1970 Autocephaly is granted by Patriarch Pimen of Moscow to the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of America.
- 1971 The old church property on Clay Street is sold. On October 24th, the mortgage for the new church is paid off and a mortgage burning ceremony was held.
- 1973 The parking lot is black-topped and air conditioning is installed.
- 1981 The St. Nicholas Garden in Woodlawn Memorial Park is created, and families move their deceased loved ones from church cemetery in Fairmont to the new location.
- 1991 A new outdoor sign for the church is installed.
- 1992 On August 23rd, the blessing of the new church furnishings was held, at the church’s 85th Anniversary. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius and Bishop Job presented the church with relics of St Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow, St. Panteleimon and SS. Cosmos and Damian. These were sealed in the altar table.
- 1996 Floors are replaced in the church and the parish hall.
- 2002 Renovations to the church: a new roof, an upgrade to the lighting system, installation of new carpeting in the church. Upgrades to the fence and grounds of the Fairmont cemetery.
- 2004 The St. Nicholas Church website is developed.
- 2007 St. Nicholas celebrates 100 years of Orthodoxy in Joliet.