BLOOMINGTON, IL [DOM] – This year commemorates the 25th anniversary of the founding of Holy Apostles Church, Bloomington IL. To mark the occasion, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest made his first archpastoral visit to the community.
On Saturday, July 1, Divine Liturgy was held. Serving with Archbishop Daniel was Priest David Gresham, Rector, Archpriest Herman Kincaid, Archpriest Daniel Doss, Priest Alexander Koranda, and Deacon Jordan Kingery. Before the liturgy began, His Eminence tonsured Nathaniel Rasmussen a Reader. During the Little Entrance Fr. David was awarded the kamilavka.
The Litany for the Departed was taken for the founders and benefactors of the community.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, His Eminence distributed a number of gramotas to the various members of the community. Gifts were presented to the Archbishop in remembrance of his visit. A festive meal was held following the divine service.
The parish was officially blessed on January 6, 1998, by His Grace Bishop Job to organize the mission as a part of St. Joseph Church in Wheaton, IL. Impressed with the growth of the Bloomington-Normal mission, Bishop Job made his first archpastoral visit in the summer of 1998. With the appointment of Archpriest Basil Aden as Midwest Diocesan director, additional guidance was given to the mission. Upon his second visit on October 4, 1999, Bishop Job named the temple Holy Apostles Orthodox Church.
In 2012, Archpriest Danial Doss began serving first as a visiting priest, and was then assigned to the parish in March of 2013. By the end of that year, Holy Apostles was elevated to parish status. Fr. Danial continued to serve as priest until July 2016.
Fr. David Gresham was appointed Rector of Holy Apostles parish in April 2017 by Bishop Paul and he has served the community since.
In 2019 the community purchased a former church located at 18884 HWY 150 in Bloomington. The new church gives the parish a larger space for the growing parish and room to grow.
