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Welcome to the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church

"In Antioch, the disciples were for the first time called Christians..."Acts 11:26 The Antiochian Orthodox Church is the direct descendant of the earliest community where the followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians. The desire and the zeal to follow the Orthodox faith in Jesus Christ is alive and well at Holy Resurrection Antiochian Orthodox Church in Tucson, come and see.

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Our Story: Inception and Early Years

The history of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church traces back to its inception as a mission on Pascha, April 13, 1969. Founded by Father David Buss, Deacon Andrew Kish, along with local Tucson Orthodox parishioners and support from St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Phoenix, the church aimed to fulfill the need for an English-speaking Orthodox Church. The inaugural service, attended by approximately 75 Orthodox Christians, was held in the chapel of the Arizona Mortuary at 4601 E. First St.

Growth and Development

Deacon Andrew Kish, initially commuting from Glendale, Arizona, later moved to Tucson and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on July 13, 1969, becoming the first Pastor of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church. As attendance grew, services were relocated from the mortuary chapel to the Parish Hall of Grace Episcopal Church. The search for a more permanent location commenced to accommodate the growing community.
In April of 1970, the mission purchased the former Miracle Mile Baptist Church located at 715 W. Vanover Road. Father Andrew Kish, who worked part-time in the parish while maintaining another job, played a significant role in the church's development. His wife, Dorothy, served as the first choir director until Mareena Boosamra Ball took over in 1978. Father Andrew served as Pastor until 1984 when Father Thomas Ruffin became the first full-time Pastor.
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Further Developments and Leadership Changes

Over the years, Holy Resurrection saw various leadership changes, including the tenure of Father Michael Evans and Father David and Kh. Luanne Barr. In February of 2011, the first service was held at the new church located at 5910 E. 5th St. Father Philip Nixon retired in the summer of 2018, and on August 1, 2018, Father Gabriel and Kh. Cindy Bullock began their tenure.
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Vision and Growth

Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, envisioned as a Pan-Orthodox Church serving Orthodox Christians from diverse ethnic backgrounds, has grown from a mission to a thriving church community over the past 50 years. The church continues to be a beacon for Tucson, welcoming parishioners from various ethnic Orthodox backgrounds and those who converted to Orthodoxy by choice. With the dedication of its members, Holy Resurrection looks forward to continuing its mission and serving the Orthodox community for many years to come.

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