Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church

In 1907, a small group of families gathered in southwest Detroit. These families, originally from Galicia, yearned for a spiritual home. They laid the foundation for what would eventually become the Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church. Their first service was held thanks to St. Theodosius Cathedral in Cleveland. This marked the beginning of Ss. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, the first Orthodox congregation in Michigan. The Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church traces its roots back to this mother church. Ss. Peter and Paul Church quickly found a permanent location in 1908. A wooden church and a parish school followed soon after. Decades later, in 1948, construction began on a new church building. The architects were Howard Simons and Frank Herman. The dedication took place in 1949. The renowned iconographer Nicholas Zadorojny adorned the church’s interior with beautiful artwork. The parish thrived. A larger school was built in 1964 to accommodate the growing number of children. The church choir boasted over 50 voices, often led by professionals from Europe and the U.S. In 2000, Ss. Peter & Paul Church was elevated to cathedral status, recognizing its historical significance as the oldest Orthodox church in Michigan. A new chapter in the story of the Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church began in 1971. Father Nicholas Fedetz, formerly of Ss. Peter and Paul, founded Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Southfield. This new congregation initially shared space with North Congregational Church. After years of fundraising, Holy Resurrection purchased land in Farmington Hills with plans to build. However, zoning challenges halted their plans. A fortunate turn of events led them to purchase an existing church property in Livonia. This included a church building, classrooms, and five acres of land. Financial difficulties plagued Holy Resurrection. In 1986, Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral stepped in, taking over the Livonia property and establishing a chapel. In 1988, this chapel became the Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, with Father Michael Matsko as its full-time priest. The church purchased additional land. The existing house became Father Matsko’s rectory. A new parish home was later constructed. In 1998, groundbreaking took place for the current church building, which was completed in 2000 and consecrated in 2004. Father Michael Matsko retired in 2011. Father John Wehling and later, in 2014, Archpriest Father Michael Butler, continued the church’s legacy. The Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church has continued to grow. It maintains a close relationship with its mother church, Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral.