Holy Transfiguration Mission Church of Columbus
Holy Transfiguration Mission Church of Columbus serves the Orthodox Christian community of Columbus, Georgia, offering regular worship services and preserving Greek Orthodox faith, traditions, and community life in the region.
Clergy:
Rev. Presbyter Stephen Muse, Presiding Priest
Church Type:
Mission
Denomination:
Greek Orthodox
Metropolis:
Metropolis of Atlanta
Affiliation:
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Ecumenical Patriarch:
Bartholomew I of Constantinople
Clergy Information updated Jan 2026
History
Holy Transfiguration Mission Church of Columbus, Georgia traces its beginnings to 1993, when six Orthodox Christian families in Columbus joined together to pursue the dream of establishing an Orthodox mission in the Chattahoochee Valley. Those founding families included Dr. Stephen Muse, Dr. Andrew Harakas, Mrs. Sophia Kontaxis, Colonel and Mrs. Robert Poydasheff, Mr. Mike Pappafotis, and Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Arlene Zielaskiewicz.
Holy Transfiguration was officially established as an Orthodox Mission Church under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in 1995. In those earliest years, Father Jon Emmanuelson traveled from Montgomery, Alabama to celebrate the Divine Liturgy every other Saturday in the chapel of Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, serving the nine Orthodox families who gathered there. In 1999, Father Vasile Bitere was assigned to Holy Transfiguration as a part-time priest. Within six months the community had secured pledges and raised a down payment to purchase a church building at 4612 Gilbert Avenue. The temple was renovated entirely through the labor of parishioners and their priest and presbytera, and adorned with beautiful Byzantine-style iconography created in English, Greek, and Romanian characters by Romanian iconographer Aurel Onut. Metropolitan Alexios formally blessed the temple in March 1999, with approximately eighty people in attendance including local community leaders and neighbors who encountered the Orthodox faith for the first time that day.
From its founding, Holy Transfiguration was conceived and blessed to be truly Pan-Orthodox in nature, welcoming Orthodox Christians of every ethnic background and celebrating the Divine Liturgy in English. That commitment to diversity and accessibility remains one of the defining characteristics of the community, which serves Columbus, Phenix City, and the entire Chattahoochee Valley region.
Holy Transfiguration Mission Church at 4612 Gilbert Avenue in Columbus serves the Orthodox Christian faithful of west Georgia and east Alabama as a parish of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
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This page serves as a reference resource for Holy Transfiguration Mission Church of Columbus, providing essential information such as location, contact details, clergy, and church affiliation. It is intended to help visitors and members of the Orthodox Christian community easily find accurate parish information in one place.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register as a member at a Greek Orthodox parish?
Parish membership is generally established by registering with the church office. Each parish may have its own process for enrollment and participation in parish life.
Can I attend services if I am not a registered member of the parish?
Greek Orthodox churches welcome visitors and non-members to attend services. Participation in sacraments may require coordination with the parish and priest.
How do I contact the parish priest for pastoral matters?
Pastoral requests are typically handled by the parish priest. The parish office can assist with contact details and help coordinate appointments or inquiries.
How do I register to baptize my child in the Greek Orthodox Church?
Baptism requests are handled by the local parish. The church will usually require documentation from the parents and godparent, along with coordination with the priest to schedule the baptism.
How do I request a wedding date at my Greek Orthodox church?
Wedding dates are scheduled through the parish office and priest. Availability depends on the church calendar, fasting periods, and parish guidelines, so it is recommended to inquire well in advance.
How do I obtain a copy of my Greek Orthodox marriage certificate?
Marriage certificates are typically issued by the church where the sacrament took place. To request a copy, contact the parish office directly and ask what information or identification is required.
How do I obtain a copy of my Greek Orthodox baptismal certificate?
Baptismal certificates are typically issued by the church where the baptism took place. To request a copy, contact the parish office directly and ask what information or identification is required.
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