St. George Russian Orthodox Church

Have you ever heard of a church built on mathematics? St. George Russian Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City has a unique origin story. It began in 2004 when Michael van Opstall, a mathematician, moved to Salt Lake City for a new job. He also had another mission: to explore the possibility of establishing a Russian Orthodox presence. The first service of the St. George Mission was held in a rented hall in May 2005, led by Father Alexei Kotar. St. George Russian Orthodox Church wasn’t always in its current beautiful building. They initially rented a former Greek church building in October 2005, complete with an iconostasis and icons. The church held its first Christmas service in this rented space in January 2006, officiated by Archimandrite Anastassy Zagarsky. The church continued to grow, celebrating its first parish holiday in May 2006. A pivotal moment for St. George Russian Orthodox Church came in November 2006 with the visit of Archbishop Kyrill. During this visit, Michael van Opstall was ordained as a deacon. He later became a priest in December 2006, ordained by Archbishop Kyrill in Seattle. The dream of a dedicated building for St. George Russian Orthodox Church took a significant step forward in 2009. The parish purchased land in West Jordan. In a special ceremony with the Kursk Root Icon of the Theotokos, the land was blessed for the future church. In 2012, Archbishop Kyrill laid the cornerstone. Construction began in 2013, culminating in the dome raising in December of that year. Finally, in May 2014, the magnificent St. George Russian Orthodox Church was consecrated by Archbishop Kyrill. The church’s design, inspired by churches of northwest Russia, stands as a testament to the dedication and faith of its community. This makes St. George Russian Orthodox Church not just a place of worship, but a symbol of perseverance and mathematical precision in building a spiritual home.