Chapel History
St. Mary’s was established in 1905, with its ground consecrated by St. Tikhon of Moscow. The original red brick structure served the Calhan community until a fire destroyed it in 1927. The parish rebuilt in the early 1930s, with a larger church about half a mile south of the original site.
During the parish’s 90th anniversary in the summer of 1995, Metropolitan Theodosius and Bishop Tikhon rededicated the original church site as a chapel honoring the founder of St. Mary’s Holy Dormition Orthodox Church, St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow.
The chapel suffered another fire in 2000, which began a long restoration. Older iconography and the refurbished holy doors, previously stored in Pueblo, were reinstalled, and by April 8, 2013 the chapel was whole again. Summer services resumed then; the building stays closed in winter, since it has no electricity or heat.
On August 23, 2014, Archbishop Benjamin came to Calhan to bless the completed iconostasis, finishing the restoration.
Services at the chapel
The chapel is used for services in the warmer months, including the Wednesday morning Prayer Service for Rain; watch the parish calendar for dates.