Founded in late 1991 or early 1992, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is a missionary parish of the Eastern-American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). The ROCOR is a self-governing (autonomous) part of the Church of Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church is one of the 14 autocephalous churches of the Orthodox Christian Communion.

The term "Orthodox" means "correctly believing" and attests to the fact the Orthodox Church has preserved the fullness of the Christian faith since Apostolic times.

While Orthodoxy is not an ethnic religion and all are welcome to worship at Holy Trinity, we are predominantly a Russian-speaking congregation. Services take place in Church Slavonic, the liturgical language of the Russian church, with some English.

We follow the traditional, Julian ("old") calendar.

If you are planning to visit Holy Trinity for the first time, please keep in mind that:

Holy Communion is open only to baptized Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared for this great Mystery. Proper preparation includes fasting (complete abstention from food or drink) since midnight, attendance at the evening service (Vigil) and regular Confession. Confessions can be heard during the evening service. If you cannot attend the evening service for a legitimate reason, please be prepared to go to Confession early, before the start of Liturgy, or by appointment.

Children under the age of 7, who have been baptized, receive Holy Communion without Confession.

VIsitors from other Orthodox Churches are kindly reminded that it is the tradition of the Russian Church to practice frequent Confession. Please speak to the priest before approaching the Chalice.

Please note that most people stand for the entirety of the service; there are no pews. Limited seating is available for the elderly, the infirm, and mothers with children. As a general rule, Liturgy is about 2 hours long and Vigil is about 3 hours long; we encourage you to wear comfortable shoes.

It is the tradition of the Russian Church that women stand on the left and men stand on the right.

Only the Priest and those with a blessing to assist him are allowed in the Altar (sanctuary). No one else should enter the Altar at any time.

If you need to speak with the Priest, or need a Baptism, Pannykhida, or Moleben, please inquire at the candle kiosk.

The earliest references to a Russian Orthodox spiritual community in the greater Triangle area of North Carolina dedicated to the Holy Trinity date to 1991. In its early years, the community was headed by Michael Gill (now choir director at the Chicago cathedral) and I. and L. Dolgov, under the omophorion of Bishop [now Metropolitan] Hilarion. It was cared spiritually first by Priest George Kallaur, now of Brooklyn, NY, then by Priest Anastasy Yatrelis, rector of Sts Cyrill and Methodius parish in Summerville, SC. Divine services took place in various private residences and both priests travelled long distances to come and serve.

In 2002-2003, with the blessing of Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan [now of Montreal and Canada], Priest Viatcheslav Davidenko came from Atlanta to serve. In 2003, Fr. Viatcheslav was assigned to Canada.

After a brief hiatus, members of the community resumed holding weekly reader services at private residences in 2006. In October 2006, Priest Alexander Logunov, rector of the Reigning Icon of the Theotokos mission in Charlotte, NC, was appointed interim rector of the parish.

In August 2007, by the mercy of God and the with aid of generous benefactors, the parish acquired property along US Route 70 between the towns of Efland and Mebane. Parish life began to take on a more normal course as the community found a place it could call home. The same summer was marked by joyful events: baptisms and the community's first wedding.

Fr. Alexander continued to serve the community's needs on a bi-weekly basis until 2009, despite the long commute from Charlotte. In December 2009, he stepped down as interim rector in order to devote more time to the Charlotte mission, which had by then grown and acquired its own permanent temple.

In 2009, the parish was able to raise funds to erect an Iconostasis and to install HVAC, insulation and dry wall. Fundraising efforts continue in order to complete capital repairs to the temple.