Our Community’s History

ABOUT ST. BARBARA GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

  • March 31, 1959 The state of Florida granted a charter to the newly formed Greek Orthodox Community of Manasota.
  • February 1973 The community was reorganized and purchased an estate on 22nd Ave West in Bradenton.
  • June 14, 1976 The Official Charter from the Church was granted by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
  • 1979 St. Barbara was chosen as the Patron Saint of the community and was approved by the congregation.
  • 1979 The present property of St. Barbara Church was purchased.
  • 1982 The construction for the Community Center / Fellow-ship Hall began.
  • October 1983 Rev. Fr. Frank Kirlangitis is assigned as the first full time priest of St. Barbara.
  • June 1984 The first Glendi Festival was organized.
  • December 4, 1988 Ground Breaking service and ceremony for the new church building.
  • March 25, 1990 Construction began for St. Barbara’s new church
  • December 7, 1991 Thyranixia service by His Grace Bishop Philip of Daphnousia.
  • October 1994 the “Ecclesiastical Fine Arts Committee” under Fr. Frank’s guidance commissioned Mr. Sirio Tonelli to execute the mosaic iconography.
  • July 2001, St. Barbara community hosts the “Atlanta Diocese Clergy-Laity Assembly and Philoptochos Conference.
  • Rev. Fr. Frank Kirlangitis was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
  • April 28, 2002 (Palm Sunday) Burning of the Church Mortgage ceremony.
  • April 2006 The “Ecclesiastical Fine Arts Committee” under Fr. Frank’s guidance and the Metropolis of Atlanta blessings commissioned Mr. George Filipakis to complete the mural iconography: the dome, the four side icons and the front of the choir loft.
  • 2010 Very Rev. Arch. Fr. Frank Kirlangitis retires after serving faithfully St. Barbara’s community for 27 year and 55 years of loving dedication to the work of the Lord as a priest.
  • June 2010 Rev. Fr. Peter Andronache is assigned to serve as a full time priest to St. Barbara’s Community.
  • November 2012, Rev. Fr. John Bociu is assigned to serve St. Barbara’s community as a full time priest.
  • December 13-14, 2013 His Eminence Alexios, consecrates our St. Barbara Church.