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St. Athanasius Orthodox Church • Nicholasville/Lexington Kentucky

St. Athanasius Orthodox Church • Nicholasville/Lexington Kentucky

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Holy Week & Pascha 2026

We invite YOU to join us for the most sacred and beloved days of the Orthodox Christian calendar — the days of Holy Week & Pascha (Easter)! This year, these days fall “one week behind” our Western Christian friends, with our Pascha falling on April 12. You can learn more about making an actual visit to St. Athanasius here. You can also take a peek inside our church by checking our parish YouTube channel. 

Our most up-to-date and complete calendar is our parish google calendar here. We also have a very simple but detailed “Holy Week & Pascha Guide” here.

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  • Note that our Paschal Services begin promptly at 1130pm Holy Saturday (April 11) and continue until about 240am in the morning, when we will bless our Pascha baskets and commence feasting in both the hall and in the outdoor tent (bring extra chairs please!) There will be tons of food — so feel free to come and enjoy. Additionally, we will gather again at 2pm on Pascha Day. There will be a Paschal Parade forming in Wilmore and stopping at two other points in Lexington. You can see the route and find out how to be part of that here on pages 4 and 5 of the Holy Week Guide. The Parade arrives with police escort by 2pm Sunday, at which time the Agape Vespers begins. A family-friendly Paschal picnic will start after Vespers and will conclude by sundown. Additional Paschal Services will be celebrated each day of Bright Week as follows:

Below is a collection of photos from March 2026 showing the full range of liturgical, educational, missional, and social life in our parish. We hope these photos and the depth of our Faith inspire you to visit St. Athanasius Orthodox Church or our St. Nina Mission during this upcoming, glorious season of church life! If you have questions about our calendar or any aspect of our Faith or parish life, please reach out to our rector and senior pastor Fr. Justin at fr.justin@bluegrassorthodox.org or our associate priest Fr. Giorgi at fr.giorgi@bluegrassorthodox.org

Bulletin April 26, 2026

April 23, 2026 News

Bulletin April 19, 2026

April 16, 2026 News

Holy Week & Pascha 2026

April 1, 2026 Featured

We invite YOU to join us for the most sacred and beloved days of the Orthodox Christian calendar — the days of Holy Week & Pascha (Easter)! This year, these days fall “one week behind” our Western Christian friends, with our Pascha falling on April 12. You can learn more about …

Bulletin March 29, 2026

March 26, 2026 News

Bulletin March 22, 2026

March 19, 2026 News

Bulletin March 15, 2026

March 5, 2026 News

Bulletin March 8 2026

March 5, 2026 News

March: The Heart of Lent

March 2, 2026 Featured

Orthodox Christians around the world are marking the most beloved season of the church year – Great Lent. The Lenten season opens directly to Lazarus Saturday & Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and (finally) to the Feast of Feasts, the Pascha of our Lord! We are glad you have found us and we invite you …

Bulletin March 1, 2026

February 26, 2026 News

Bulletin February 22, 2026

February 19, 2026 News
Older Stories

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St. Athanasius Orthodox Church

St. Athanasius Orthodox Church

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St. Athanasius Orthodox Church
14 hours ago

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." From the Liturgy this morning. ... See MoreSee Less

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St. Athanasius Orthodox Church
22 hours ago

April 23 is the Feast of St. George the Great-Martyr, one of the most beloved saints in all of Christian history!

St. George was born to a Christian noble family in Lydda, Syria Palestina, during the late third century between about 275 AD and 285 AD. He suffered as a "great-martyr" for Christ -- meaning his sufferings were repeated and extended -- in Nicomedia in Asia Minor.

His father, Gerontios, was from Cappadocia, an officer in the Roman army; his mother, Polychronia, was a native of Lydda in Syria. They were both Christians from noble families, so their child was raised with Christian beliefs. They decided to call him Georgios, meaning "worker of the land" (i.e., farmer). At the age of 14, George lost his father; a few years later, George's mother, Polychronia, died.
George then decided to go to Nicomedia and present himself to Emperor Diocletian to apply for a career as a soldier. Diocletian welcomed him with open arms, as he had known his father, Gerontius — one of his finest soldiers. By his late 20s, George was promoted to the rank of Tribunus and stationed as an imperial guard of the Emperor at Nicomedia.

On 24 February AD 303, Diocletian (influenced by his junior co-ruler Galerius) issued an edict that every Christian soldier in the army should be arrested and that every soldier should offer a sacrifice to the Roman gods. However, George objected, and with the courage of his faith in Christ, approached the Emperor and ruler. Diocletian was upset, not wanting to lose his best tribune and the son of his best official, Gerontius. But George loudly renounced the Emperor's edict, and in front of his fellow soldiers and tribunes he claimed himself to be a Christian and declared his worship of Jesus Christ. Diocletian attempted to convert George, even offering gifts of land, money, and slaves if he made a sacrifice to the Roman gods; he made many offers, but George categorically refused.

Recognizing the futility of his efforts and insisting on upholding his edict, Diocletian ordered that George be executed for his refusal. Before the execution, George gave his wealth to the poor and prepared himself for what was to come. After various extended tortures, including laceration on a wheel of swords during which he was revived three times, George was executed by decapitation before Nicomedia's city wall, on 23 April 303. Witnessing these exctruciating sufferings and bold faith, the Empress Alexandra and Athanasius -- a pagan priest -- become Christians. They ultimately joined George in martyrdom.

After the legalization of the Christian Faith, St. George's body was returned to Lydda for burial, where Christians lovingly honored him as a martyr and powerful intercessor before God.

In some accounts of St. George, the story of "St. George and the dragon" plays a prominent role. It is said that a dragon made its nest at the spring that provided water for a certain city in Syria. Consequently, the citizens had to dislodge or distract the dragon from its nest to collect water. To do so, each day they were compelled to offer the dragon (at first) a sheep; but (eventually) the dragon required a maiden. In this pagan city, the victim was chosen by drawing lots. One day, this happened to be a local nobleman's daughter. The nobleman begged for her life to be spared, but to no avail. She was offered to the dragon, but then the heroic Saint George appeared -- while on his way travelling -- and intervened. He faced the dragon, protected himself with the sign of the Cross, slew the dragon, and rescued the princess. It was said that -- in this face of this miracle and power -- the entire citizenry of that area abandoned their worship of the idols and embraced Christ.

St. George's patronage is widespread. Among the places that recognize him as their heavenly patron would be England, Georgia, Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Palestine, Moscow (and many other cities.) He is also patron for agricultural workers, farmers, field workers; soldiers; archers; armourers; equestrians, cavalry, saddle makers; peacekeeping missions; skin diseases, lepers and leprosy, syphilis; sheep, shepherds, and boy scouts.

Holy Father George, pray to God for us!
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April 23 is the Feas
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St. Athanasius Orthodox Church
1 day ago

Happy Nameday to Fr. Giorgi and to all those who bear the august name of St. George! We keep the Feast with a 7am Thursday Liturgy. ... See MoreSee Less

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We are a parish of the Diocese of the South of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), under the archpastoral care of his grace, the right reverend Alexander, Bishop of Dallas and the South. We are the first OCA parish in Kentucky. We are located in the heart of the bluegrass region just outside Lexington.

Saint Athanasius Orthodox Church
100 Lime Lane
Nicholasville, KY 40356
Directions to the church

Priest Justin Patterson
Church: (859) 881-8144
Cell: (859) 361-2823
E-mail Fr. Justin

We are a parish of the Diocese of the South of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), under the archpastoral care of his grace, the right reverend ALEXANDER, Bishop of Dallas and the South. We are the first OCA parish in Kentucky. We are located in the heart of the bluegrass region just outside Lexington.

Click HERE if you’re looking for St. Nina.

  • Home
  • Welcome
  • About Us
    • Parish History
    • Leadership
    • Building News
    • Capital Campaign Update 2022
  • Ministries
  • Calendar
  • Directions
  • Pictures
  • Give

© 2026 · St. Athanasius Orthodox Church • Nicholasville/Lexington Kentucky