Our History

2012 - Present

Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church is one of the youngest Orthodox parishes in Central Illinois. Founded in 2012 by a small group of Baptist converts to the Russian Orthodox Church, the mission began humbly - sharing worship space with an Anglican parish and receiving pastoral care from Fr. Thomas Janikowski and other visiting clergy.

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As the mission grew, Holy Transfiguration moved to a small storefront on Sheridan Road in Peoria. During this period, the parish was blessed to host the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon several times and was served by Fr. Gabriel Montrose, Fr. Andrei Papkov,

Fr. Innokenty Reichert, Fr. Raphael Tadros, and other visiting priests.

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In 2021, the community purchased the former Church of Christ Science Reading Room in Peoria and lovingly remodeled it to serve as a new parish home. From this new location, the parish continued to celebrate the Divine Services under the care of Fr. Raphael Tadros and visiting clergy.

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In October 2024, the mission briefly paused services before reopening in January 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment. Since then, Holy Transfiguration has focused on strengthening parish life through more frequent fellowship events, parish workdays, shared meals, and visits to other Orthodox communities throughout Illinois.

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Today, Holy Transfiguration stands as a small but devoted mission parish - rooted in the tradition of the early Church, united in faith, and dedicated to building a lasting home for Orthodoxy in Peoria. The parish continues to grow spiritually and communally, striving to be a light of the Orthodox faith in Central Illinois.

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We invite you to be part of this story - and to help shape the next chapter of Orthodoxy in Peoria.