St. Jonah Orthodox Church Celebrates Centennial of Patron Saint's Repose with New Ordinations and Plans for a New Temple

SPRING, TX — The parish of St. Jonah of Manchuria in Spring, Texas, marked a historic milestone this week, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the repose of their heavenly patron October 20, 2025. Roughly two-hundred faithful joined in the celebrations, coming from as far as Florida, California, and Illinois.

The festal services were presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America.

Archbishop Gabriel was concelebrated by twelve priests and five deacons, with the services highlighted by several ordinations that reflected the parish’s continued growth and spiritual vitality. During the Divine Liturgy, Daniel Gonzales and Paisios (Shane) Martin were ordained as Readers; Paisios Martin and James Hall were subsequently ordained as Subdeacons; and James Hall was finally ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

A special moment of gratitude came when the parish’s longtime choir director, Demetra Durham, received a Gramota (a formal diocesan commendation) recognizing her fifty years of service as a choir director...

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