Our History
The congregation of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Gillette,WY,is made up largely of people who converted to Orthodoxy in adulthood. Many of them were members of a Protestant church called the Open Bible Praise Fellowship. Around 1993 the pastor,Rev.John Atchinson,began a search for the true church, wondering if the church founded on the day of Pentecost in approximately 33A.D. still existed. He became convinced through his study and reading (and meeting with Orthodox priests in Wyoming and Colorado) that the Orthodox Church was indeed this church. In 1993 he resigned as pastor of his Protestant church, and he and about 25 of his parishioners began to prepare to become Orthodox Christians. After careful nurture from Orthodox clergy throughout the region and from the local bishop of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, Bishop BASIL, they were made members of the Orthodox Church in 1995 through the sacrament of Chrismation(Annointing). Their pastor was ordained a priest in June of 1995 and served the congregation until he was transferred to Arkansas( where he now serves as pastor of St.Nicholas Orthodox Mission in Springdale,AR).
After his departure in 2001 the parish was served by Father Michael Keiser,who was also instrumental in establishing St.John the Theologian Orthodox Mission in Rapid Ciry,SD. In 2003 Father James Thayer was appointed to serve the parish in Gillette and the mission in Rapid City.
The church first met in a doctor’s office,but in 1998 purchased the building at the corner of Gillette Ave. and Second Street.
CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS
If you are new to the Orthodox Church, you will find many things that are very different from worship within a Protestant or Roman Catholic church. There are quite a few, so only a few will be mentioned.
Icons. Notice the many pictures all around the church building. There is even a wall of icons which separates the altar area from the rest of the church. An icon is not a picture or naturalistic representation of what it intends to depict. Rather, an icon is a representation of spiritual and heavenly things, a border between the divine and the human, a window into the mystery it intends to convey.
Orthodox Christians often honor and venerate those depicted in the icons by kissing the icons, bowing before them, or lighting candles. This is not idolatry, but a concrete way of honoring God and the saints.
Music. The music used in Orthodox worship at Holy Resurrection is derived from the Byzantine tradition of chanting. It may sound strange to Western ears, but we believe it is very conductive to worship. Also, no musical instruments are used in Orthodox worship; the human voice alone is the instrument of praise and worship.
Standing or sitting? There is great deal of freedom in Orthodox worship. If you are new to Orthodoxy, just follow the lead of those around you-- stand when they stand, sit when they sit.
Communion. The main service on Sunday is what the Roman Catholics would call the Mass or Protestant would call the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. The Orthodox call it the Divine Liturgy. The Sunday Divine Liturgy usually lasts about 1 and 1/2 hours and is sung throughout. At the time of Holy Communion, the priest communes the faithful in both kinds (bread and wine) from the chalice with a spoon. Please note that only Orthodox Christians in good standing and who have prepared themselves by fasting, prayer and confession are permitted to receive Holy Communion.
Two local customs. At Holy Resurrection we don’t pass the plate. There is a basket at the back of the church where people make an offering or pay for candles, but our worship is not interrupted by fishing through wallets or purses for money to put in a plate.
Also, after every Divine Liturgy, whether on Sunday or any other day, there is a full potluck meal shared by everyone (not just coffee and cookies). Please join us for the meal!