St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church is a growing parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). It began in a garage and former shoe-shine stand in South St. Louis, Missouri, in 1983, just east of River Des Peres and west of Jamieson Ave (between the St. Louis Hills and Ellendale neighborhoods). It was founded by several local Orthodox Christians seeking a more traditional observance. Within ten years, the building was significantly expanded from the original, and twenty years later has built and relocated to a much larger, and more traditional building opposite in prominence from its original, at Interstate 270 and Dougherty Ferry (205 Highland Avenue, Des Peres). Its diverse parishioners consist mostly of American converts, but it boasts a sizable Russian contingent much of which frequent the mission chapel St. Mary of Egypt at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
The full range of daily, weekly, and annual Divine Services are celebrated, in English with some Church Slavonic. Archpriest Martin Swanson, an American convert, and former provost and dean of health sciences at St. Louis University both founded and rectors the parish. Priest Sergei Alekseev came to the parish as Associate Pastor in 2014, which with his vast knowledge and experience shepherding English-speaking parishes is a great blessing to all, and especially Slavic parishioners. St. Basil's also has as a frequent concelebrating priest Archpriest Radomir Chkautovich, who recently retired as the rector of Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in St. Louis. All are warmly encouraged to visit and enquire openly.
St. Basil the Great is commited to a Traditional parochial culture and celebration of the full range of Divine Services of the Holy Orthodox Church within the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America under the canonical jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) -- in full union with the now-reconciled, age-old Patriarchate of Moscow.
The parish also includes several annual lectures and close study of orthodox texts and topics, a church school for ages 5 - 18, bi-annual picnics, as well as weekly meals and discussions following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday. Frequent confession is the norm. To visit, and especially if you plan to approach the Chalice, please contact the rector through the church website or the number here listed.