St Elias Orthodox Christian Church

08/24/2026

This past Saturday we had a Prosphora baking class led by Sh. Jessica Slockett and Rania Sayegh. We had 23 participants who made the Holy Bread that will be used for The Eucharist and blessed bread during The Divine Liturgy. Fr. Elias and Dn. Romanos taught the significance of the stamp that is used as well as sharing the prayers and process of the Proskomedi service that is done prior to Liturgy to prepare the gifts for their use.

08/03/2026

It was a beautiful Sunday at St. Elias as we celebrated Fr. Elias' first liturgy with us. His steadfast spirit and warrior's heart for the faith are already evident! And we are so grateful for Kh. Nicole, whose kindness and grace make our parish feel complete. Many years to them both!

07/29/2026

This past Sunday, our St. Elias family gathered to celebrate and send off Fr. Andrew Salvia, Khouria Alethia, and their beautiful family. Their years of service, compassion, and dedication have blessed our parish beyond measure. We will miss them dearly, but we are excited for the good work God has prepared for them at St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Lexington, KY. With love and deep gratitude — thank you for everything. May God grant you many years in your new home!

07/22/2026

Axios! He is worthy! Mustahiq!
A heartfelt welcome to Fr. Elias Adam Murphy as he begins his ministry on Aug. 1st at St. Elias Orthodox Christian Church in Austin, TX! We are excited and grateful to welcome him and Khouria Nicole to our parish family.

Congratulations are also in order for Fr. Elias' ordination to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan SABA on the Feast of the Holy Prophet Elias. What a beautiful providence that his priestly ministry began on the feast day of our beloved patron saint.

We look forward to growing together in Christ under Fr. Elias' spiritual leadership and pray that God grants him many blessed years of faithful service.

Welcome to Texas, Fr. Elias and Khouria Nicole! May God bless your ministry and our parish for many years to come.

They celebrate two Hierarchal Divine Liturgies in honor of the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council and the Prophet Elias, as well as the ordination of Fr. Elias Murphy.

07/20/2026

Glory to God for a Blessed Feast of Our Patron, the Holy Prophet Elias! ☦️

What a beautiful and grace-filled weekend as our parish celebrated the Feast of the Holy Prophet Elias with two days of worship, fellowship, and thanksgiving.

On Saturday evening, we gathered for Great Vespers, joined by faithful from Orthodox churches throughout the Austin area. It was a wonderful expression of the unity we share in Christ, followed by a joyful reception and fellowship in our church hall.

On Sunday, we continued our celebration with the Divine Liturgy and a festive multicultural coffee hour, where parishioners shared delicious foods representing the many cultures that make up our St. Elias family.

This feast was made even more special as we welcomed an entire family as Catechumens, taking the next step in their journey toward Holy Orthodoxy. May God continue to strengthen and guide them on their spiritual path.

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, prepared food, and helped make this weekend such a memorable celebration. Your love, generosity, and hospitality are a beautiful reflection of the vibrant life of our parish.

Through the prayers of the Holy Prophet Elias, may God continue to bless our parish, our clergy, and all who seek Him.

Holy Prophet Elias, intercede for us!

☦️ Many Years to our St. Elias parish family!

07/17/2026

Welcome to Our New Pastor!
With great joy and gratitude to God, St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church is pleased to announce that His Eminence Metropolitan SABA has appointed Rev. Adam Murphy as the new Pastor of St. Elias, effective August 1, 2026.

Rev. Adam will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Monday, July 20, during the Feast of the Holy Prophet Elias at Antiochian Village, making this an especially meaningful time for our parish family.

Rev. Adam comes to us with a lifetime of formation and service within the Orthodox Church. Raised in the Antiochian Archdiocese, he has faithfully served as a Reader, Subdeacon, and Deacon. He holds degrees in theology from Hellenic College and Boston College, completed his theological formation at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and most recently served as the Center Director of FOCUS Detroit, leading ministries of outreach, young adult engagement, and service to those in need.

Together with his wife, Sh. Nicole, Rev. Adam brings a deep love for Christ, the Orthodox faith, and pastoral ministry. We look forward to welcoming them into our parish family and supporting them as they begin this exciting new chapter at St. Elias.

We also wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to His Eminence Metropolitan SABA for his fatherly guidance and prayers throughout this transition. We are deeply thankful to Fr. Andrew Salvia for his faithful service to St. Elias and pray that God abundantly blesses him and his family as they begin their new ministry at St. Andrew Antiochian Orthodox Church in Lexington, Kentucky. We likewise offer our gratitude to Fr. David Barr, who will continue his ministry as pastor of St. Gregory Antiochian Orthodox Church, assisted by Fr. Nicholas Long, as our two parishes begin this new chapter together.

Please join us in praying for Rev. Adam and Sh. Nicole as they prepare for their move to Austin and for all of our clergy during this time of transition.

Axios! God grant Rev. Adam and Sh. Nicole many blessed years!

☦️ Welcome to the St. Elias family!

02/02/2026

Beloved in Christ,

We give thanks to God for the remarkable growth and blessings He has bestowed upon our St. Elias community over nearly a century. What began with the faithful vision of a small group of immigrant families has, by His grace, become a vibrant, multifaceted parish composed of people from many backgrounds and walks of life. Today we are blessed with two thriving, worshiping communities—our historic Downtown Church and our North Campus—each serving the faithful in distinct and meaningful ways.

After prayerful reflection, careful study, and consultation with the Archepiscopal Vicar, the clergy and the Parish Council of St. Elias, and with the blessing of Metropolitan SABA, we are beginning the process of transitioning our two campuses into two distinct parishes. This is not a separation in spirit or mission, but an affirmation of the growth God has given us and a practical step toward serving the faithful with greater pastoral care, clarity, and focus. This moment marks an important milestone—one that should be celebrated by both communities—as it reflects the success of our shared mission to go forth and multiply.

We understand that such developments can stir a mix of emotions. Change, even when guided by God’s providence, can be challenging. Yet, we firmly believe that this transition presents an opportunity not only for our own faithful, but also for the wider witness of Orthodoxy in the Austin area. Each community carries its own pastoral needs, demographics, and opportunities for ministry. By establishing two parishes, we will be better able to address these needs intentionally, strengthen our ministries, and foster deeper relationships within each community.

Our prayer is that this process will lead to renewed growth and flourishing for both communities, grounding each in a clear vision and long-term stability. For this to happen, the bond of Christian love and cooperation between the two must remain strong. As St. Paul teaches, we fulfill “the law of Christ” when we “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2). This unity of heart and purpose must guide us throughout the transition and beyond.

We ask for your prayers during this important time. In the coming weeks, we will share additional information and outline the next steps as we walk through this process together—with faith, peace, and confidence in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Yours in Christ,

Very Reverend Father David Barr, Pastor

Emil Sayegh, Parish Council Chairman

01/25/2026

Sunday Services Cancelled!

Out of an abundance of caution, we are cancelling services at St. Elias on Sunday, January 25, 2026 at both campuses.

We have been monitoring the weather reports, and for your safety and the safety of our parishioners, clergy, servers, and singers, we believe it is best to ask everyone to stay home as this severe winter storm continues here in Central Texas. The concern for our parishioners' safety is our priority. The roads are expected to be icy and dangerous, especially in the morning hours.

Please stay warm and safe.

01/24/2026

Out of abundant of caution, all Saturday services are cancelled on January 24, including the service prior to the Walk for Life and Great Vespers.

We will continue to monitor the weather closely throughout Saturday and will provide an update Saturday evening or early Sunday morning regarding Sunday services. Our first priority is the safety and well-being of all our parishioners and visitors.

01/24/2026

Due to the approaching winter storm, Metropolitan SABA has postponed his visit to St. Elias this weekend, January 24-25. His primary concern is the safety of our parish community, and we will work with His Eminence to reschedule the visit at a later date.