Church Of The Holy Apostles

Glory To Jesus Christ

Welcome to the website of Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in Bixby, Oklahoma. We are a group of dedicated Christians, worshiping God in spirit and in truth. We encourage you to spend some time exploring our website and learning about the Orthodox Christian Faith which was once delivered to the saints . Whether you are already an Orthodox Christian or not, we ask that you come to visit our parish, as no amount of reading is a substitute for the experience of the Divine Liturgy. May God bless you.

If you would like to learn more about the Orthodox Church, or are an Orthodox Christian who needs to be part of the sacramental life of a parish family, we invite you to come and see. For more information you may call Fr. Ambrose at 638-9854 or email him using our contact form.

Walking Through The Streets Of Athens You Come Across Buildings From Bygone Eras Great Monuments And Attractions That Take You Back In Time And Invite You To Get To Know Their History Such As The Church Of The Holy Apostles

It is possible that you have passed by very important historical and religious monuments without knowing the interesting details that make them special – not only for Athens but also for the whole of Greece.

For example, did you know which is the oldest Christian church in Athens? Possibly not – and yet you may have passed by it many times.

The Church of the Holy Apostles in the Ancient Agora is a special and great example of architecture right in the centre of Athens with a history that dates back over 1,000 years.

Built on the southeast side of the Ancient Agora it is estimated that the Church of the Holy Apostles was built sometime in the last quarter of the 10th century.

The 1,000+ years old church is the only temple preserved to this present day within the archaeological site.

With regard to the construction of the oldest church in Athens, experts say that the Church of the Holy Apostles is a mid-Byzantine temple of great historical value. It is the first temple of the so-called Athenian style. It is an important monument mainly as its design, a special and successful combination of a simple square column and a cruciform inscribed building, lays the foundation for the later development of Byzantine architecture.

Today the church of the Holy Apostles is classified as a protected Byzantine monument.

The church is opened once every year, on the day of the assembly of the 12 Apostles, June 30.

Join Our Worship Community Online And In Person

Holy Eucharist | Sunday 9AM Holy Eucharist | Sunday 11AM Insight | Tuesday 6:15PM Morning Prayer and Bible Study | Wednesday 8:30AM Compline | Thursday 9PM

About the Church

We are an episcopal church, founded in 1844, with a diverse and growing membership.

We are an inclusive faith tradition and welcome people from all backgrounds.

We run an active meal outreach and social services operation.

We are devoted to social justice and equity.

We embrace the traditions of our faith while making them relevant in an ever-changing modern world.

Adopted June 20, 2019

You May Like: What Are Bible Verses For Encouragement

The Church And Its Reflections

The Holy Apostles was one of the earliest foundations of Constantinople. According to Eusebius of Caesarea, the first structurea mausoleum destined to house Constantines own mortal remainswas completed by the time of the emperors death in 337. As the same source records, it was originally conceived as twelve cenotaphs or markers raised in memory of the Apostles surrounding the emperors sarcophagus, an arrangement reminiscent not only of the Tomb of Christ set within the Anastasis Rotunda in Jerusalem, but also, according to a now lost Coptic source by a certain Chaeremon, possibly a member of the Museum in Alexandria in ca. 80 AD, of the setting of Alexander the Greats burial.

Interest in the architectural complex continued into the middle Byzantine period , when it found reflections in the literary space of visually evocative rhetorical descriptions , which describe the forms of the church and elaborate on the symbolic meanings associated with it. It is by way of these texts, notably the tenth-century poem of Constantine the Rhodian and the early thirteenth-century description of Nicholas Mesarites, that the image of the Holy Apostles has resisted oblivion, despite its destruction during the second half of the fifteenth century, when it was replaced by the Fatih Camii, a mosque dedicated to the conqueror of the Byzantine capital, the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II.

Church Of The Holy Apostles

The Church of the Holy Apostles , also known as the Imperial Polyándreion , was a Byzantine Eastern Orthodox church in Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. The first structure dated to the 4th century, though future emperors would add to and improve upon it. It was second in size and importance only to the Hagia Sophia among the great churches of the capital.

When Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in 1453, the Holy Apostles briefly became the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Three years later the dilapidated edifice was abandoned, and the patriarchate was moved to the Theotokos Pammakaristos Church. In 1461, the church of the Holy Apostles was demolished by the Ottomans to make way for the Fatih Mosque.

You May Like: Is King James The Original Bible

All Are Welcome No Exceptions

COVID-19 PREVENTIONMay 26, 2022, MASKS MANDATORYnot

Welcome To Church Of The Holy Apostles

Church of the Holy Apostles was established in 1977 to be a symbol of ecumenism honoring both Roman Catholic and Episcopal traditions. We have one worship service with two liturgies designed to provide a unique, cohesive, joyful experience where inter-faith and same faith families can remain together, feel valued and welcome. Join us at 10 :30 a.m. each Sunday for One Worship Service Two LiturgiesATTEND IN PERSON OR WATCH FROM HOME ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.Worship with us on our page.

Read Also: Who Wrote The Original Bible

The Church Of The Holy Apostles

Though several churches were removed in the clearing of the site for excavation, it was decided to save and restore the little Byzantine church dedicated to the Holy Apostles.

The church, with an unusual tetraconch interior plan and decorative tilework on the exterior, is among the oldest in Athens, probably to be dated just before A.D. 1000. It was surely the focal point of an extensive neighborhood in the Byzantine period, the remains of which were recorded and removed in the course of the excavations. The eastern half of the church was relatively untouched, but several additions, the latest dating to the late 19th century, had damaged and obscured the western end. After excavation, these later additions were removed and the church restored to its original form. The work was funded by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and supervised by Alison Frantz. With the Stoa of Attalos, this reconstruction was completed and dedicated in 1956. The festival of the Twelve Apostles is still celebrated at the church every June 30th.

• The Church of the Holy Apostles

• From the Archives

Welcome To Holy Apostles

Holy Apostles strives to be a genuinely family-friendly and welcoming church, accepting people for who they are and where they are at. Worshipping God is central to what we do. We also aspire to support and encourage each other in our spiritual lives as we share Gods love within our communities and wherever we live out our faith seven days a week.

The church family encompasses people of all ages from both within the parish and the wider surrounding area, and we are a mix of people, from those who have been Christians for decades, to others who are just testing the waters of faith. We are all still rough around the edges but feel Holy Apostles is a perfect place for imperfect people. At the moment you can join us on Facebook if you search for HA Cheltenham, or click facebook.com/HACheltenham

If you are new to Holy Apostles and would like to connect with us and find out more then please have a look at our ‘Connect’ page.

Also Check: What Does The Bible Say About Sex Before Marriage