A Byzantine Sanctuary in Greenwood Village
Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church sits along South Yosemite Street in Greenwood Village, Colorado, a suburb in the southern part of the Denver metro. Part of the Denver Metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the parish is under the pastoral care of Fr. Theodore Dorrance and the spiritual oversight of His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine. Its sanctuary is a Byzantine basilica crowned with a dome rather than a spire, and inside the walls and arches are filled with a working iconography program. About one-third of parishioners are cradle Orthodox, and two-thirds come from other faith traditions, or from no faith background at all. Services are almost entirely in English, with some Greek and occasionally other languages woven in to keep the congregation connected to the ancient roots of the Christian faith.
Sunday Worship and the Divine Liturgy
Sunday morning begins with Orthros (Matins) at 8:15 a.m., followed by the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. The Sunday Liturgy, which draws on the text written by Saint John Chrysostom of Constantinople around the year 400, typically runs about ninety minutes. The first half is centered on hymns, scripture readings, and the sermon; the second half focuses on the consecration and distribution of the Eucharist. The congregation stands during the procession of the gifts, the reading of the Gospel, the recitation of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer, and the distribution of Holy Communion; at other points visitors are welcome to sit or stand as they are able.
Holy Communion is offered to those who have been baptized or chrismated Orthodox and are spiritually prepared. After the Liturgy, everyone, Orthodox and visitor alike, is invited to come forward to receive a piece of antidoron (blessed bread) and a blessing from the priest. There is no formal dress code. Most people dress in business casual attire, dresses, or suits, treating Sunday as an occasion for their Sunday best, but the parish is clear that visitors should never let a lack of fine clothes keep them from coming to worship.
Weekday Liturgies are celebrated when scheduled, typically beginning with Orthros at 8:00 a.m. and the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m. The Sunday Homily is posted on YouTube and podcast platforms, and services are livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
Sacred Architecture and the Iconography Program
The architecture of the building itself is a deliberate expression of Orthodox theology. The exterior is a Byzantine basilica, oriented along a north-south axis because of local zoning requirements rather than the more traditional east-west axis. Worshipers enter from the west and face east, the direction from which, the Church teaches, Christ the Sun of Righteousness will appear at His Second Coming. Rather than a spire pointing to a distant heaven, a dome rises over the nave, symbolizing God's covering over His creation and reminding all who enter that in the Incarnation heaven was poured out upon earth and united with it.
The interior is organized around a series of spaces, each with a specific liturgical meaning. The outer narthex holds restrooms and stairs to the choir area; the inner narthex is the entrance space where the faithful may light beeswax candles and offer personal prayers. The nave is the main gathering area, with the bishop's throne on the right side of the solea, the pulpit on the left, the chanters' stand to the right, and the choir loft in the back. Above, in the dome, is the icon of Christ the Almighty (Pantocrator), surrounded by the Greek letters IC and XC for Jesus Christ and bearing the divine Name in His halo.
The sanctuary is separated from the nave by the iconostasis, an icon screen. On its right are always the icons of Christ and Saint John the Baptist; on the left are the icons of the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary) and the patron saint of the parish, Saint Catherine. Above the sanctuary, in the apse, is a large icon of the Theotokos with the Christ Child, her hands lifted in prayer. The Holy Altar stands free of the wall, draped in cloths, with a small tabernacle for reserved Communion for the sick and dying.
The iconography program at Saint Catherine is a living work in progress. A dedicated iconography page catalogs the saints and scenes painted on the walls. The large icons on the upper level include the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Presentation, the Baptism, the Transfiguration, the Raising of Lazarus, the Holy Entry into Jerusalem, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and Pentecost. The ground floor hosts saints from across the centuries, including St. Nicholas, St. George, St. Basil, St. Barbara, St. Athanasios, St. Spyridon, St. Nektarios, St. Herman of Alaska, St. John Maximovitch, and Sts. Sophia and her daughters. The upper walls continue the procession with St. Agnes of Rome, St. Vladimir of Kyiv, St. Hilda, St. Christina, St. Stylianos, and many others. The dome itself carries Old Testament prophets and patriarchs, from Daniel, David, Elijah, Enoch, and Isaiah to Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, Joachim and Anna.
The Orthodox Faith
The Orthodox Church teaches that she has preserved and handed down the historic Christian Faith from the time of the Apostles, free from error and distortion, through a continuous line of bishops that traces back through apostolic succession to Christ Himself. The faith is rooted in the self-disclosure of God, especially in the revelation of Jesus Christ, and is experienced in the life of the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The doctrine of the Holy Trinity, one God in three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), is central. So is the doctrine of the Incarnation: Jesus Christ is true God and true man, and in Him divinity and humanity are united without the destruction of either. The ancient Fathers summarized His ministry with the bold affirmation, "God became what we are so that we may become what He is."
The Orthodox Church treasures the Holy Scriptures and reads a portion of the Bible at every service. Holy Scripture is understood as part of the wider treasure of Holy Tradition, the faith that is celebrated in the Eucharist, taught by the Fathers, expressed in prayers, hymns, and icons, defended by the seven Ecumenical Councils, and embodied in the Nicene Creed. That Creed, formulated at the Councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381), is the authoritative summary of Orthodox belief and is recited at every Divine Liturgy and at every baptism.
The Orthodox Church celebrates the Holy Eucharist as truly the Body and Blood of Christ, the universal belief of all Christians until the Reformation led to multiple Western denominations and conflicting doctrines. The Eucharist is both miracle and mystery at every Divine Liturgy, and the Church does not attempt to define precisely how this happens. The Orthodox Church encompasses Greek, Russian, Antiochian, Serbian, Romanian, and other national expressions of the one faith; together with Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy comprised the original Christian Church for the first millennium.
Adult Ministries: A Lifelong Education
Adult Christian education is one of the foundational pillars of parish life. The question the ministry asks is whether parishioners are being helped to grow in the knowledge of the Orthodox Christian Faith and equipped to be not just hearers but doers of the word, an idea drawn from Matthew 7:24 and James 1:22. Several ongoing groups serve this purpose.
The Agape Senior Circle gathers seniors once a month from September through May for fellowship, the celebration of a Feast day Divine Liturgy, a shared meal, and discussion with the clergy. Orthros for those gatherings is scheduled at 9:00 a.m. and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. The group also schedules special events such as games, movie nights, and day trips.
The Parish Bible Study meets every Tuesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. to read the life of a saint, work through a book study, and study the Bible, with the goal of learning the Faith and applying it to everyday life. Anyone can join at any time.
The Men's Group & Book Study meets on Tuesday mornings from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. for book study, spiritual fellowship, fishing trips, retreats, and service projects. Any man eighteen and older can join at any point, even in the middle of a book study.
The Bookstore Ministry equips and educates parishioners and visitors in the Orthodox faith through resources offered in an atmosphere of hospitality and encouragement, with core values of love, respect, support, education, wisdom, and outreach.
The Introduction to Orthodoxy series is offered each year beginning in the Fall and running into Great Lent. The series consists of thirteen presentations with discussion plus a Lenten retreat. Classes meet on Saturdays from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., beginning with Great Vespers at 5:00 p.m., followed by the presentation and discussion. The series is open to all guests and members of Saint Catherine and serves both as an adult catechism and as preparation for those who wish to become Orthodox Christian through holy baptism or holy chrismation.
The Saints Zachariah and Elizabeth Marriage Ministry nurtures and strengthens marriages, helping husbands and wives grow together in Christ through prayer, the sacraments, fellowship, and loving service. Its vision is to build Christ-centered marriages that grow in faith, flourish in love, and become living witnesses of God's love through prayer, fellowship, and lifelong discipleship. Core values include Christ-centered, welcoming, consistent, rooted in growth, authentic, integrity, hope and restoration, legacy, and supportive.
Worship and Sacramental Life Ministries
Worship is the heart and soul of the parish's life, and several ministries flow out of it. Fr. Theodore oversees the worship and sacramental life of Saint Catherine.
The Youth Acolyte Ministry invites all male youth ages seven and older to serve as acolytes during divine worship services, especially on Sunday mornings and during Lent and Holy Week. Acolytes light altar candles, prepare charcoal and incense, participate in processions, and assist the clergy with the services. Training is provided by the clergy and the men's altar servers. The Acolyte Men serve alongside them; this is especially important on Feast days during the week when the youth are most often unavailable.
Most of the worship services are chanted in the centuries-old Byzantine chant tradition, and the Chanting Ministry is essential. Byzantine chant is used by Greek Orthodox churches around the world in many languages. Saint Catherine warmly invites those who have the gift of singing and want to learn this tradition to join the ministry; the ability to read western music is helpful.
The Adult Choir sings throughout the year for Sunday Divine Liturgies and for select services such as the Parish Feast Day and Holy Week. Singers ages seven and older are welcome. Practices are held on Wednesday evenings.
The Hosanna Music Ministry is a youth choir for children in preschool through fifth grade that helps develop a love of church music in children and a better understanding of Orthodox theology. The children learn the basics of Byzantine music, communion hymns, hymns of the saints, Christmas program material, and music for the Holy Saturday Youth Liturgy. The ministry is connected to the Church School and to the Christmas Program and Holy Saturday Liturgy.
The Myrrh Bearing Girls Ministry invites all girls between the ages of four and thirteen to participate as Myrrh Bearers on Holy Friday evening, Holy Saturday morning, and at the Midnight Resurrection Service. The girls dress in white dresses, shoes, and gloves, and the parish runs a yearly Myrrh Bearers Dress Exchange so that other girls may borrow previously used items.
The Prosphora Baking Ministry is central to the celebration of every Divine Liturgy. Volunteers prayerfully bake the loaves of bread known as the prosphora, the word meaning offering. During the Liturgy, the celebrant lifts up both the bread and the chalice and says, "Your own of Your own we offer to You in all and for all." Volunteers bake roughly three to five times a year, two loaves at a time, and the ministry leads provide the recipe and instructions for first-time volunteers.
Youth and Young Adult Ministries
The parish gathers its youth and young adults into several age-specific ministries that combine faith, fellowship, and service.
LAP (Little Angels Playgroup) is for the youngest parishioners. Play groups are organized at local parks, play areas, or parishioners' homes to build foundational Orthodox friendships for children and their parents.
Hope & Joy (Holy Orthodox Primary Education and Junior Orthodox Youth) launches younger children into new experiences including Vacation Bible School, the Christmas Program, the Holy Friday Youth Retreat, and additional activities designed to educate them in the Orthodox faith, build relationships, serve the broader community, and provide a safe, fun, and loving environment.
GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America) is split into two groups. Junior GOYA ministers to middle school students ages eleven to fourteen, and Senior GOYA ministers to students ages fourteen to eighteen. The focus of both is to strengthen the spiritual friendship of young Orthodox Christians while acquiring a better understanding of who God the Holy Trinity is and to encourage them to become active sacramental participants in the life of the Body of Christ. GOYA participates in annual events including the Metropolis of Denver Basketball Tournament, the Front Range Lenten Retreat (held at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park), and Camp Emmanuel, a Denver Metropolis summer camp at the Camp Como Retreat Center in Como, Colorado. The basketball tournament, the largest Orthodox gathering in the Denver Metropolis, brings together hundreds of GOYAns, families, and friends for fellowship and friendly competition.
YAL (Young Adult League) provides opportunities for young adults to nurture their relationship with Christ through Eucharistic worship, education, fellowship, and service. Through activities, events, and attendance at services, young adults are encouraged to build stronger relationships with their peers and become well-rounded members of the parish community.
Youth Religious Education
The St. Catherine Church School provides students from preschool through high school with lessons through which they encounter the saints, scriptures, sacraments, doctrines, and traditions of Orthodox Christianity. Church School meets on Sunday mornings after Holy Communion for about forty-five minutes, partnering with parents in the Christian formation of their children that begins at home.
Vacation Bible School happens for one week each summer, with children rotating to different sessions that range from sports to learning about the miracles of the Church. Each year has a unique theme, and all rotations relate to it. The children learn songs, Bible verses, and life lessons that point to Christ and His Church, and the week ends with a parent performance and slideshow. Children ages three (and potty-trained) through fifth grade may attend.
The Christmas Program is an extension of the Church School Ministry in which children experience Christ's Nativity through song and storytelling. Children learn the songs through the Hosanna Children's Music Ministry during their weekly Sunday School sessions.
The St. John Oratorical Festival is a parish, Metropolis, and Archdiocesan event involving Greek Orthodox youth from sixth through twelfth grade. It gives young people the opportunity to research topics relevant to their lives and apply their Orthodox Christian faith and personal experiences through a timed speech delivered to a live audience. Each speech is evaluated by a panel of judges experienced in public speaking.
Philoptochos: Friends of the Poor
The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. is the duly accredited women's philanthropic society of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the Saint Catherine Chapter #8018 is open to all adult women of the parish. Its mission is to help the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the handicapped, the victims of disasters, to undertake the burial of impoverished persons, and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the Church through fundraising efforts. It also promotes the charitable, benevolent, and philanthropic purposes of the Archdiocese through instructional programs, lectures, seminars, and other educational resources, and helps preserve Orthodox Christian concepts and the Orthodox Christian family.
Philoptochos supports a long list of organizations through its annual philanthropic disbursements. These include Anchor Center for the Blind, the Children's Medical Fund, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, the Covenant Cupboard, the Denver Rescue Mission, Dry Bones, the Food Bank of the Rockies, the Helpful Heart House for Sober Living, IOCC Emergency Kits, Love, INC, the Morgan Adams Foundation, Newborn Hope, the OpenSoul Foundation, Operation Classroom at Lansing Elementary School in Aurora, the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, The Other Side Academy, Project Our Town, the Ronald McDonald House, Saint Basil Academy, the Village Resource Center, Voluntad/Street's Hope, and the WillStrong Leukemia Program. Philoptochos also contributes to Metropolis of Denver and National Philoptochos commitments.
The largest fundraiser of the year at Saint Catherine is Tables Extraordinaire, an annual Fall event that begins with a week of baking in late August and culminates with Holiday Teas, Table Viewings, a Holiday Bake Shop, a silent auction, and a formal Saturday luncheon. Volunteers lavishly decorate holiday tables themed to their liking and invite friends and family to fill the seats, donating the proceeds to the philanthropic work of the chapter.
Other recurring Philoptochos events include the Women's Fellowship Dinner, the Pan-Orthodox Women's Retreat (held in 2026 at Saint Catherine with Nicole M. Roccas, PhD, as the weekend speaker), Operation Classroom (a school supply drive for Lansing Elementary School in Aurora), a Ronald McDonald House Lenten Service Project, a Vasilopita Sunday in January, and a holiday Palm Sunday Bake Sale of traditional Greek pastries such as koulourakia (butter cookies) and tsoureki (sweet bread).
Outreach and Evangelism
The Outreach and Evangelism Ministries (OEM) are guided by a Leadership Team that supports, defines, oversees, and coordinates the various ministries under its umbrella and aligns their work with the words of Christ in Matthew 25: "I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."
The Good Shepherd Giving Ministry allocates church funds to qualified charitable organizations whose mission aligns with that call, and fosters working relationships between those organizations and Saint Catherine. The Good Samaritan Ministry was inspired by a retreat presentation from Fr. Paul Abernathy, with the goal of energizing the Colorado Rocky Mountain Orthodox community to serve neighbors in need through love in deed and truth. The parish partners with IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) to support emergency relief and development programs locally and worldwide, and with OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) to develop and support indigenous churches and Orthodox missionaries.
The Village Resource Center (VRC), whose board includes volunteer members from supporting churches in the south Denver metro area, raises and manages funds for temporary rent assistance to help neighbors in the area stay in their homes. The Praxis Ministry coordinates local volunteer opportunities such as serving in soup kitchens, building projects, and food collections. Project Mexico sends a team of volunteers each summer to St. Innocent Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, where they build a house for a local family, interact with the orphans, and bond in fellowship with other Orthodox Christians from across North America. The Covenant Cupboard Food Pantry Ministry supports a local food pantry just down the street at Covenant Presbyterian Church DTC, promoting volunteer opportunities and coordinating food drives at Saint Catherine, with collected items transported to the cupboard by ministry volunteers. The Welcoming Ministry invites newcomers into the life of the parish in the name of Jesus, filling roles such as greeters, Welcome Table staff, and planners of Newcomer dinners.
What to Expect on a First Visit
Saint Catherine is a parish where there are no strangers, only friends you have not met. Visitors of every ethnic and faith background are welcome. Upon arriving, greeters meet newcomers at the door; visitors can let a greeter know that this is a first visit and ask to be introduced to people who can answer questions and demonstrate what happens during the Liturgy. It is fine to simply be present, to listen, and to take in the beauty of the worship without trying to imitate every gesture; the rest will come with time. Most people dress in business casual to dressy attire, but modesty and a spirit of worship matter far more than any particular outfit. Worshipers who are not Orthodox are warmly welcomed to come forward after the Liturgy for a piece of antidoron and a blessing from the priest.
For those who would like to keep learning after a first visit, the parish offers the Introduction to Orthodoxy series, the Frequent Questions page, articles on Orthodox Teachings and Sacred Architecture, and a page on what Orthodox Christians believe. Sunday Homilies are available as a podcast and on YouTube, and the church is active on Facebook and Instagram. Donations may be made through the parish's giving page.