A Greek Orthodox Home in Town & Country
Tucked along Des Peres Road in Town & Country, Missouri, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church is the area's Greek Orthodox parish, a community that gathers each Sunday for ancient Christian worship while serving its neighbors through a wide network of ministries, education, and fellowship. The church belongs to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and falls within the Metropolis of Chicago, a region that stretches across the Midwest. On a typical Sunday the parking lot fills with families who have come to pray in the language of the New Testament, to hear their children sing in the choir, and to share a cup of coffee with people they have known for decades.
Sunday Worship in English and Greek
The Sunday rhythm at Assumption follows the pattern of Orthodox Christianity throughout the world. Orthros, the matins service, begins at 8:15 a.m., and the Divine Liturgy follows at 9:20 a.m.. Services and sermons are spoken in both English and Greek, and visitors will also catch other languages that represent the diversity of the community, all of it unified, as the church describes, in a shared love for Christ and His Church. Guests are warmly welcomed at the Divine Liturgy, and after the service everyone is invited to the Sunday Coffee Hour for fellowship and light refreshments. A visitor form is available to help first-time guests stay connected.
Faith, the Sacraments, and Becoming Orthodox
Assumption teaches the classic Orthodox understanding of faith: God is the source of faith, and He has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, with the life of the Church sustained by the Holy Spirit. The faithful receive the Holy Spirit through the celebration of the Eucharist and Holy Communion, through the other Sacraments, through daily prayer, and through the practice of fasting, all of which lead toward a Christ-like life and the journey to Paradise. The church also welcomes inquirers who wish to learn more about Orthodoxy. Classes or individual conferences are offered to those preparing to become members, with the length and shape of that instruction tailored to each person's background.
Clergy with Deep Roots
The parish is led by Rev. Protopresbyter Fr. Panagiotis Kostoulas, who serves as Proistamenos. Father Panagiotis was born in Volos, Greece, and holds a BSc in Pastoral Studies from the School of Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, along with a degree from the Higher Ecclesiastical School of Thessaloniki. He was ordained a deacon in 1996 at the Church of the Annunciation of Theotokos in Nea Ionia by His Eminence Christodoulos, then Metropolitan of Demetrias & Almiros and later Archbishop of Athens, and was ordained a priest in 2002 at the same church. His ministry has taken him through parishes in Greece, Sweden, Italy, and Zambia, and has included youth programs, Bible study, catechetical work, and social welfare projects. He has served Assumption since March 2024.
The parish also honors Fr. Joseph Strzelecki, now retired. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Fr. Joseph graduated from Hellenic College in 1982 and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 1985. After his ordination in 1988, he served parishes in San Jose and Santa Cruz, California, before moving to St. Louis in 1994 to serve the Assumption community. He shepherded the parish for 29 years before retiring in 2023.
Ministries for Every Age
Assumption runs one of the more extensive ministry programs in the area, with something for nearly every stage of life:
- Sunday School and the Acolyte program introduce children to worship and serve at the altar.
- HOPE and JOY ministries serve the younger elementary children, while Jr. GOYA and GOYA carry middle and high schoolers into deeper fellowship, faith, and service.
- YAL & OCF (Young Adult League and Orthodox Christian Fellowship) welcomes college students and young professionals.
- The Philoptochos Chapter 2054, the women's philanthropic ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, organizes charitable outreach and fellowship.
- The Choir and two Hellenic Dancers groups (K through 8th grade, and 9th grade and up) keep Greek liturgical music and traditional dance alive in the parish.
- Adults meet for the Women's Book Study, the Kafeneio discussion and fellowship circle, and the Hiking Club, while the Photography Club documents parish life.
- The Greek Youth & Adult Language School teaches the Greek language to children and adults.
- Each summer the parish hosts a Vacation Church School, where children learn that the Church is a "Hospital for the Soul," and grow through worship, learning, service, music, and play.
- Catechumens preparing for entry into the Orthodox Church are supported by the parish throughout their formation.
Parish Life Through the Year
The life of the parish moves with the Orthodox liturgical calendar. On the Feast of the Holy Dormition in August, the community gathers with His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael and fellow priests from across the Metropolis to celebrate the feast of the church's patron. Holy Week is observed with great care, and Pascha is marked as the high point of the year. The parish also honors those who serve in healthcare with a special prayer and blessing on St. Luke Sunday each October, and each year recognizes a Father of the Year and a Man of the Year from among its members.
Giving and Building for the Future
Assumption invites stewardship as an act of gratitude, expressed through financial gifts, time, talent, and prayer. The church is also in the midst of a Capital Campaign that will run over the next three years to fund a new roof and renovations to the Philoptochos Room, the Church Hall, and the restrooms. Donations and pledges can be made through the parish's online giving pages, and a Stewardship Pledge Form is available for those who wish to plan a recurring commitment.
Visiting Assumption
The church is located at 1755 Des Peres Road, Town & Country, MO 63131. The office can be reached at (314) 966-2255 or at office@assumptiongoc.org, and Fr. Panagiotis can be reached at father@assumptiongoc.org. Anyone interested in learning more about becoming Orthodox Christian is encouraged to contact him directly. The parish keeps an active calendar and shares recent photos and news through its Facebook and Instagram pages, and the annual Greek Fest brings the wider St. Louis community to the church grounds each year.