Christianity in Houston

==Orthodoxy==
[[File:AnnuncationGreekOrthodoxHouston.JPG|thumb|[[Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Houston)|Annunciation Orthodox Church]] in [[Montrose, Houston]]]]
As of 2011 Eastern Orthodox churches in Houston are having growing memberships. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and other countries have added to Houston's Orthodox population. As of 2011 in the entire State of Texas there were 32,000 people who actively attend Orthodox churches.<ref>Kever, Jeannie. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-converts-flocking-to-ancient-church-in-Houston-1611237.php New converts flocking to ancient church in Houston]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. January 9, 2011. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> In 2013 Father John Whiteford, the pastor of St. Jonah Orthodox Church near [[Spring, Texas|Spring]], stated that there were about 6,000-9,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians in Houston.<ref name=ChitwoodOrthfabric>"[http://blog.chron.com/sacredduty/2013/07/orthodox-christians-part-of-diverse-fabric-of-houston-faith/#14283101=0 Orthodox Christians part of diverse fabric of Houston faith]" (). July 23, 2013. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref>

As of 2013, the largest Orthodox congregations are [[Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Houston)|Annunciation Cathedral Greek]] and St. George Antiochian. Orthodox parishes hold festivals such as the Greek Festival. Former District Attorney of Harris County [[Pat Lykos]] and the members of the Pappas family, operating [[Pappas Restaurants]], are Greek Orthodox.<ref name=ChitwoodOrthfabric/>

In 1861 the first Orthodox church in the Houston area, named after Saints [[Constantine I|Constantine]] and [[Helena (empress)|Helen]], was in Galveston. The worshippers were in [[Galveston]] and, after 1911, in [[Houston]], with the latter using the [[Galveston-Houston Inter-Urban Train]]. The priest, Father Theoclitos Triantafilides, was sent by [[Tsar of Russia|Tsar]] [[Nicholas II of Russia]]. Nicholas II also sent funds to the church. Whiteford stated that those in Houston took the train to Galveston to attend services. Immigrants founded Orthodox congregations in [[Southeast Texas]] from 1908 to the turn of the 20th century. Immigrants came from the Arab world, Greece, Romania, Russia, Syria, and [[Antakya]] in [[Turkey]].<ref name=ChitwoodOrthfabric/>

===Armenians===
{{see also|Armenian American}}
[[File:St. Kevork Armenian Church, Hyuston.jpg|thumb|St. Kevork Armenian Church]]
St. Kevork Armenian Church, which was established around <!--2007-25=1982-->1982, serves as the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] facility in Houston. {{Asof|2007}} about 10% of the estimated 4,000-5,000 ethnic Armenians in Houston are active in this church.<ref>Vara, Richard. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Head-of-Armenian-Apostolic-Church-visiting-Houston-1672534.php  Head of Armenian Apostolic Church visiting Houston]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Saturday October 20, 2007. Retrieved on April 27, 2016.</ref>

===Coptics===
{{see also|Coptic American|Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States}}
[[File:StMarkCopticOrthodoxChurchBellaireTX0.JPG|thumb|St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, [[Bellaire, Texas|Bellaire]]]]

Houston is within the [[Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States]].

As of 2004, there were three [[Coptic Orthodox]] churches in Houston: St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church<!--It isn't named by the source, but the Coptic Church in Bellaire *is* St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church--> in [[Bellaire, Texas|Bellaire]], the St. Mary and Archangel Michael Church in northwest [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]], and the Archangel Raphael Coptic Orthodox Church in [[Clear Lake City]]. The St. Mary and Archangel Michael church began church services on July 25, 2004, had 200 families in August of that year, and had a cost of $2.5 million.<ref name=Varanewhome>Vara, Richard. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-home-is-miracle-for-Coptic-Christians-1523955.php New home is 'miracle' for Coptic Christians]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. August 21, 2004. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> The St. Mary and Archangel Michael church is the largest Copt church in the Houston area.<ref name=KatzGregory>Katz, Gregory. "[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Egyptian-Coptic-Christians-find-bright-future-in-1549976.php Egyptian Coptic Christians find bright future in Houston]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. December 6, 2006. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref>

In the late 1960s there were far fewer Coptic families. Every month, a priest from [[Los Angeles]] flew to Houston and started a mass in a borrowed Orthodox church or in a private house.<ref name=Varanewhome/> From 1968 to 2006 over 600 Copt families moved to Houston. Due to [[Persecution of Copts|sectarian strife against Copts within Egypt]], by 2006 the membership of Copt churches in Houston was growing.<ref name=KatzGregory/>

In 2006 Gregory Katz of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' stated that partly because many Copt church leaders are accustomed to anti-Copt attitudes in Egypt, those who come to Houston are not accustomed to speaking freely about their religious beliefs and therefore "do not mingle easily with the rest of the large Christian community in the Houston area".<ref name=KatzGregory/>

After the [[2011 Alexandria bombing]], Houston Coptic churches cancelled their [[Coptic Christmas#Date of Christmas|Coptic Christmas]] services.<ref>Shellnutt, Kate. "[http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/01/coptic-christians-in-houston-cancel-christmas-services/ Coptic Christians in Houston cancel Christmas services]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. January 6, 2011. Retrieved on May 25, 2014.</ref>

===Ethiopians===
[[File:EthiopianchurchHoustoncanemont.JPG|thumb|Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church in [[Fondren Southwest]]]]
Houston's [[Ethiopian Orthodox]] church is the Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church ({{lang-am|ደብረ ሰላም መድኃኔዓለም የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን}} ''Debre Selam MedhaneAlem YeItyopphya Ortodoks Tewahedo Bete Kristiyan''; the name approximately means "Sanctuary of Peace and the Savior") in [[Fondren Southwest]].<ref name=VaraEthiop>Vara, Richard. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Ethiopian-believers-find-strength-in-Orthodox-2101478.php Ethiopian believers find strength in Orthodox church]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. February 15, 2003. Retrieved on May 5, 2014.</ref>

Prior to the construction of the church, those of the Ethiopian Orthodox faith worshiped at Coptic Orthodox churches. Mesfin Genanaw, a [[Houston Community College]] teacher who was one of the individuals who assisted with the building of the church, stated that in 1992 20 Ethiopian women who were attending a Coptic church planned the establishment of an Ethiopian church. In 1993 the group purchased a {{convert|2.5|acre|ha|adj=on}} site and a tent, and conducted church services in a tent. After fundraisers were held, in 1995 construction of the permanent church started, and the church later obtained an additional {{convert|5|acre|ha}} of land. Genanaw stated in a 2003 ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' article that there are an estimated 5,000 Ethiopians in Greater Houston.<ref name=VaraEthiop/>

===Greeks===
Houston is within the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver|Metropolis of Denver]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denver.goarch.org/parishes|title=Parishes|publisher=[[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver|Metropolis of Denver]]|accessdate=2022-02-01|quote=Annunciation Cathedral 3511 Yoakum Blvd. Houston, TX 77006}}</ref>

===Malankara Syrians===
The [[Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America]] is headquartered in [[Fort Bend County, Texas]], near [[Beasley, Texas|Beasley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ds-wa.org/|
title=Home|publisher=[[Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America]]|accessdate=2022-02-01|quote=Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church,Diocese of South-West America, 3101 Hopkins Rd Beasley, TX 77417}}</ref>

===Russians===
As of 2010 St. Jonah Orthodox Church, located in an [[unincorporated area]] in [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]] with a [[Spring, Texas|Spring]] address, is the sole Anglophone Russian Orthodox church in the Houston area. The church began holding services in 1998. John Whiteford was the deacon and provided lay services. In 2001 Whiteford was ordained as an Orthodox priest and he became a reverend. Whiteford estimated that the church purchased its current property in 2006 and he stated that in order to purchase the construction of the new building, the church paid in cash. The ceremony to celebrate the completion of its current building was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday October 23–24, 2010. As of 2010 about 90 people attend this church.<ref name=MeeksRussian>Meeks, Flori. "[http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/spring-news/article/Russian-Orthodox-parish-to-celebrate-new-church-1694266.php Russian Orthodox parish to celebrate new church]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. October 14, 2014. Retrieved on May 5, 2014.</ref>

Another church, St. Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Church, holds services in [[Church Slavonic language|Slavonic]].<ref name=MeeksRussian/>