St. Elias Church
Battle Creek
MI

49015

St. Elias Church, Battle Creek, Michigan, United States
The sanctuary
Pascha
Spring Deanery Meeting Grand Rapids, MI

Who we are

Dear Brethren:

We sincerely extend to you a warm and heartfelt welcome to St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Christian Church!

Our humble parish is dedicated to imitating the love and faithfulness of Jesus Christ by sharing the good news with our words and living it with our lives. We seek to strengthen and encourage one another in this ancient faith so that we may be equipped to welcome many more members into the fold of our parish family as fellow disciples of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.

Like the mustard seed in the Gospel (Matthew13:31-32), our parish community is growing into a shady tree under which those who are outside our pasture might find shelter. To this end, our services are conducted primarily in English, enabling people from all backgrounds to find a spiritual home with us.

Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God (Romans 15:7).

With love in Christ our Savior,
Very Rev. Archpriest Lawrence Bacik

Location of worship / Church Address

5066 B Drive South
Battle Creek, MI 49015
United States
Phone: 269-979-2146 / 269-665-9313
Fax: 269-665-9548

Download St. Elias Church vCard with Service Times

Church Pastor

Fr. Lawrence Bacik
Priest
5066 B Drive South
Battle Creek, MI 49015
United States
Phone: 269-979-2146
Fax: 269-665-9548

Download Priest Fr. Lawrence Bacik vCard

Quote of the Day

Psalms 119:103

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

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St. Elias Church Battle Creek on YouTube




Leadership

Leader Name:
Fr. Lawrence Bacik
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Priest
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269-665-9548

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Other Church Leaders:
Mr. Fred Beronja, Parish President
Mr. Alexander Hanchar, Sacristan

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St. Elias Church Leadership Photos

Fr. Lawrence Bacik


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269-665-9548

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St. Elias Church - 5066 B Drive South, Battle Creek, MI
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St. Elias Church Battle Creek Service Times

Liturgical Services

Sundays 10:00AM: Divine Liturgy (Please visit YouTube for livestream services)

Saturdays 6:00PM: Great Vespers

Weekdays As announced – see monthly Newsletter


Confessions are heard following Vespers, preceding Divine Liturgy or by appointment

Baptisms and weddings by appointment

Weddings by appointment and require as much advance notice as possible

Service Times last updated on the 16th of June, 2022


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St. Elias Church Photo Gallery

St. Elias Church, Battle Creek, Michigan, United States
The sanctuary
Pascha
Spring Deanery Meeting Grand Rapids, MI



St. Elias Church History

Parish History

Excerpts of an article in the St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Church 25th Anniversary memorial booklet, 1991 By Father Deacon Samuel Beronja

Our parish began on October 15, 1966, when arrangements were made for our first Divine Liturgy to be held in the Chapel of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Our second home was the Trinity Lutheran Church, and our third home, the Odd Fellow Hall.

Encouraged by Archpriest Photius Donahue (then-pastor of St. Andrews Orthodox Church in E. Lansing, reposed 1983) to build a mission church, energetic and devoted parish leaders searched for a permanent home, and the present property on B Drive South was selected. On October 1, 1969 St. Elias Orthodox Catholic Church was incorporated in the State of Michigan by Joyce Beronja, resident agent.

There were many who helped to make this dream come true – those seeking the funding for the property, the ladies of St. Mary’s Sisterhood who were there with food for the workers, the men of St. Elias who were the electricians, the plumbers, the painters, the laborers, etc., who truly built St. Elias Church with “their own hands,” and all of the people who assisted financially. On September 13, 1970, the first Divine Liturgy was held at our beloved St. Elias Orthodox Church.

Archpriest Photius Donahue, founding pastor served 1966-1967. Hieromonk Gabriel Loynes, 1967-1969; Priest Denis Ericson, 1970; Archpriest John Ball, 1970-1973; Archpriest Michael St. Andrew, 1973-1990 Archpriest Basil Karpelenia, 1990-1991; Archpriest James Donnely, 1991-1993; Archpriest Michael St. Andrew, 1993-2001; Archpriest Roman Star, Administrative & Acting Pastor, 2002-2005. Subdeacon Samuel Beronja has faithfully served since 1976 and consequently as protodeacon since 1983 until the present day. On February 9, 2005 the Most Rev. Mercurius (Ivanov), Bishop of Zaraisk, appointed Archpriest Lawrence Bacik as pastor.

With the help of the present membership and people who attend St. Elias, we have maintained our parish, enlarged our parish hall, added a basement, added a very modern kitchen, and purchased additional property. Both our temple and its adjacent parish hall were enlarged in 1995. A new and exquisite iconostasis handcrafted by parishioners Chris Popovich and Piku Pazik completed this undertaking in October 1995 and also blessed the same month by the Most Rev. Paul (Ponomarev), Bishop of Zaraisk.

We rejoice that during the nearly forty years of our parish’s existence, God has showered abundant blessings upon our people. May our Lord bless and prosper our labors during the years that lie ahead as we strive for the preservation and continued growth of St. Elias Orthodox Church. Well done, thou good and faithful servants of the Lord!


St. Elias Church Historical Photos

Our Parish - drawing by Tim Oliphant



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