About Us
Clergy
Meet our clergy who guide our church in faith, service, and stewardship.
The Faith
Discover the rich and ancient traditions of Orthodoxy and deepen your spiritual life through worship and teaching.
Visitors
New to Transfiguration? Find out what to expect, how to join us for services, and get connected to our community.
Etiquette
During our liturgy we worship God with reverence and awe, but above all, with love.
Parish History
From very humble beginnings in a small church hall on Justin Lane, Austin, Texas, in 1985, Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church has grown to a beautiful beacon high on the hill of St. Stephen’s School Road. The magnificent icons and Byzantine art are a testament to the devotion and love parishioners share here as we spread God’s love. It took great faith and big dreams to build our Byzantine church sanctuary, and our Church has a long and beautiful history. Here is a brief summary of several benchmark events that have occurred since our inception:
1985: Mission Parish w/Rev Nicholas Triantafilou
1986: Began using Parish Hall of St. George’s Episcopal Church
1988: Official name The Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church
1990: Purchased our current 4.2 acres
1991: Ladies Philoptochos Society established
1993: Divine Liturgy at Mt. Tabor Hall facilities.
1997: Fr. Jordan G. Brown became our Priest
2004: Our Byzantine Church Sanctuary opens
2006: First phase of Sanctuary Iconography
2009: Fr. Michael Lambakis became our Priest
2010: Fr. Vasileios Flegas becomes our Priest
2011: Beautiful wood pews installed
2012: Iconography Dome Project completed
2013: Our Parish mortgage is paid off
2016: Parish Walkway and TGOC Consecration
2018: Launch TGOC Parish Expansion Project
2018: Deacon Salvatore M. Fazio
2019: Annual Austin Greek Festivals 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
2021: Father George Bithos becomes our Assistant Priest
2022: TGOC campus expansion project approved by Parish Assembly
2023: Ordination to Holy Diaconate: Deacon Stephen Dow, Deacon Haralambos Ryburn
2024: Mount Tabor Community Center opens
Transfiguration has been fulfilling a philanthropic role since 1985 in the Austin community serving those in need with home-delivered meals, feeding the homeless, and offering support to local, national, and international charities. The Ladies Philoptochos Society leads the way in working tirelessly on charitable projects to help those less fortunate. Other church ministries volunteer to serve those in need as well.
The Annual Austin Greek Festival has become a great way to spread the Greek culture and religion as well as providing much-needed funds for the new Building Expansion Project. Interactive church tours provide an opportunity to experience the love, fullness, and allure of the Orthodox faith through the stunning Byzantine art and iconography while learning about the long and historical path of the Orthodox religion, which centers around love and philanthropy.
Our Journey Through Time
Explore the significant milestones that have shaped Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church into the vibrant community it is today.
1985
Mission Parish with Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou
- August 1985: Reverend Nicholas C. Triantafilou, Proistamenos of Annunciation Cathedral in Houston, visited Austin to meet Greek Orthodox families interested in founding the first Greek Orthodox Church in the growing state capital.
- December 1985: His Grace, Bishop Anthimos of Denver visited Austin and gave his blessing to proceed with the new Parish – with this the Greek Orthodox Church of Austin was born.
- 1988: At the recommendation of Father Nick, the membership voted to officially name the Church The Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church (celebrating its feast day on August 6).
1986-1991
Liturgy at Parish Hall, Resurrection Episcopal Church on Justin Lane in Austin
- Fundraising to purchase Parish Property.
- Monthly Luncheons
- Austin Pecan Street Festival
1990
Purchased current 4.2 acres
1991
Ladies Philoptochos Society established
1997
Fr. Jordan G. Brown became our Priest
1997-2003
Mount Tabor Hall Debt Elimination Planning and Pledges for a Byzantine Style Church
2004
Our Byzantine Church Sanctuary Opens
2006
First Phase of Sanctuary Iconography
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Iconographer Leonidas Diamantopoulos was chosen to write the iconography for the Sanctuary. The first phase of Sanctuary iconography, including the Platytera, the Dormition of the Theotokos, the Hierarchs, and the major feasts in the life of Christ were installed in the Sanctuary in September 2006.
2009-2010
Fr. Michael Lambakis bacame our Priest
- Fr. Michael assigned to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral as Proistamenos
2010
Fr. Vasileios Flegas becomes our Priest
2011
Our beautiful wood pews are installed
2012
Iconography Dome Project completed
2016
Metropolitan ISAIAH of Denver consecrates Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church
- Consecration of our Church is the Service of sanctification and solemn dedication of a building for use as a Church.
2018-2024
Parishioner Led Parish Expansion Project Begins
2019
1st Annual Austin Greek Festival
2024
Great Vespers with His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine of Denver during our Fest of the Transfiguration
2024
Mount Tabor Community Center opens
