Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is a parish of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). ROCOR is a self-governing (autonomous) part of the Russian Orthodox Church, one of the fourteen autocephalous (independent) Local Churches that together comprise the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ.

The term Orthodox means "correctly believing" and attests to the fact the Orthodox Church has preserved the fullness of the Christian faith since Apostolic times. It is commonly used now to distinguish the Orthodox Church from other Christian communities.

If you are planning to visit Holy Trinity for the first time, please keep in mind that:

Orthodoxy is not an ethnic religion and all are welcome to worship at Holy Trinity. At the same time, we are dedicated to preserving the liturgical and cultural traditions passed down within the Russian Church through generations. Services are conducted in a mix of Church Slavonic, the liturgical language of the Russian Church, and English.

We follow the Orthodox Church Calendar, sometimes called the Julian or "Old" calendar.

Holy Communion is open only to baptized Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared for this great Mystery. Proper preparation includes fasting (complete abstention from food or drink) since midnight, attendance at the evening service (Vigil) and regular Confession. Confessions can be heard during the evening service. If you cannot attend the evening service for a legitimate reason, please be prepared to go to Confession early, before the start of Liturgy, or by appointment.

Children under the age of 7, who have been baptized, receive Holy Communion without Confession.

Visitors from other ROCOR parishes or from other Orthodox jurisdictions are kindly asked to contact the rector prior to approaching the Chalice. 

Please note that the tradition of the Orthodox Church is to pray in an upright (standing) position. There is limited seating in the church, and we ask that these be reserved for the elderly, the infirm, and mothers with children. As a general rule, the services last about 2.5 hours; we encourage you to wear comfortable shoes.

Only the Priest and those with a blessing to assist him are allowed in the altar (sanctuary). No one else should enter the altar at any time.

If you need to speak with the Priest or need to schedule a service of need (e.g., baptism, panikhida, etc.), please contact him directly or inquire at the candle kiosk.

The earliest references to a Russian Orthodox spiritual community in the greater Triangle area of North Carolina dedicated to the Holy Trinity date to 1991. In its early years, the community was headed by Michael Gill and I. and L. Dolgov, under the omophorion of Bishop Hilarion of Manhattan, later Metropolitan and First Hierarch of ROCOR. The community was cared for spiritually by numerous priests, including Fr. George Kallaur, Fr. Anastasy Yatrelis, and Fr. Viatcheslav Davidenko. Divine services took place in various private residences and priests travelled long distances to come and serve.

After a brief hiatus, members of the community resumed holding weekly reader services at private residences in 2006. In October of that year, Priest Alexander Logunov, rector of the Reigning Icon of the Theotokos mission in Charlotte, NC, was appointed interim rector of the parish.

In August 2007, by the mercy of God and with the aid of generous benefactors, the parish acquired property along US Route 70 between the towns of Efland and Mebane. Parish life began to take on a more normal course as the community found a place it could call home.

Fr. Alexander continued to serve the parish's needs on a bi-weekly basis until 2009, despite the long commute from Charlotte.

In 2010, after a long search, the parish invited its first full-time rector. Soon after, Metropolitan Hilarion appointed Hieromonk Gabriel (Kvasnikov) to be the spiritual director of the community. Under Fr. Gabriel's leadership, the parish grew from strength to strength. Fr. Gabriel was deeply beloved by the community for his accessibility, openness, and Christian love. On August 21, 2016, Metropolitan +Hilarion elevated him to the rank of Hegumen in recognition of his dedication and service to the Church. Sadly, after just over six years in North Carolina, Fr. Gabriel suddenly reposed in the Lord on June 14, 2018. He is buried behind the Holy Dormition cemetery church at Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, NY).

Archpriest Sergei Orzhahovsky, a good friend of Fr. Gabriel's from Russia who was already familiar with the parish, selflessly cared for the parish's spiritual needs immediately after the beloved rector's repose. Knowing that Fr. Sergei's stay would be temporary, the parish invited Hieromonk Nikon (Kashkovalov), a young priestmonk who had been serving in Los Angeles, to serve at Holy Trinity Church. Despite the challenge of the COVID pandemic and internal turmoil caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Fr. Nikon's time at Holy Trinity was marked by a heightened missionary zeal and outreach to the local slavic community. 

In late 2022, Fr. Nikon announced to the parish his impending departure. In January of the next year, the parish asked Protodeacon Peter Markevich to become our new priest. Fr. Peter accepted priestly ordination on the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs (February 12th, 2023) and, along with his young family, relocated to North Carolina to take on his new service in April of that year.

Through these decades, the mission of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church remains the same — to show forth Christ's love and truth and to serve His people both in the Research Triangle and beyond.