About St. Basil the Great [Ruthenian] · Irving, Texas
St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish in Irving, Texas, serving the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex in the Byzantine liturgical tradition. It belongs to the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and offers the Divine Liturgy in English. The parish began in 1982 as a mission of St. John Chrysostom in Houston, was erected as a parish in 1988 under the patronage of St. Basil the Great, and continues to grow from its location on East Union Bower Road. Today it is served by an administrator, two deacons, and an active lay community that gathers for Sunday Divine Liturgy, weekday services in Great Lent, icon-writing workshops, ECF faith formation, and outreach missions.
- Established
- 1988
- Patron
- St. Basil the Great
- Rector
- Very Reverend Elias L. Rafaj (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic), located geographically within the territory of the Roman Diocese of Dallas
Why belong here
St. Basil's offers full Byzantine Catholic life in the heart of the DFW Metroplex: Sunday Divine Liturgy with Matins, weekday Presanctified Liturgies during Great Lent, Saturday Great Vespers, and a robust sacramental life including regular confession. Faith formation is offered through Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) for children, adult education, Bible-study webinars, teen and young adult groups, and a ByziKids homeschool co-op. The parish is also distinctive for its Byzantine icon-writing workshops led by Fr. Elias and for nurturing Byzantine Catholic outreach missions in Waco, Tulsa, and elsewhere in the region.
Mass times at St. Basil the Great [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 5:00 PM – 5:50 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM (before Sunday Divine Liturgy), and after the Sunday Divine Liturgy
- By appointment
Parish History
St. Basil the Great began in 1982 as a Byzantine Catholic mission of St. John Chrysostom Church in Houston, with Divine Liturgies celebrated weekly at the University of Dallas or Holy Trinity Seminary. A small group of dedicated faithful purchased two acres with a four-bedroom house near Irving, composed a mission statement, and worked to convert the property. On Palm Sunday, March 27, 1988, the mission was declared a parish and Father Robert Karl became the first pastor-administrator.
- Mission begun: 1982 (served from Houston)
- Parish erected: March 27, 1988 (Palm Sunday)
- Church dedication: October 9, 1988 by Bishop John Bilock and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dallas
- Original chapel: converted game room and garage, seating ~60
- 1989 enlargement: existing pool filled in for new floor, roof built; rededicated November 19, 1989
- 1993: full Byzantine iconography of church interior completed
- First pastor-administrator: Father Robert Karl
Worship Schedule and Divine Liturgy
St. Basil's follows the Byzantine liturgical calendar. The principal Sunday celebration is the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM, preceded by Matins at 8:30 AM. Saturday evenings feature Great Vespers at 4:00 PM, with confessions heard from 5:00 to 5:50 PM. During Great Lent the parish offers the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM and on Fridays at 7:00 PM.
- Saturday 4:00 PM — Great Vespers
- Saturday 5:00–5:50 PM — Confessions
- Sunday 8:30 AM — Matins
- Sunday 10:00 AM — Divine Liturgy
- Wednesday 7:00 PM — Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (Great Lent)
- Friday 7:00 PM — Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (during the Great Fast)
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
The parish celebrates the Byzantine tradition's Holy Mysteries. Confession is heard regularly before Liturgy on weekends or by appointment; the Byzantine understanding frames confession as a way to heal from whatever has separated the faithful from God. Couples are asked to contact the pastor at least six months before a proposed wedding; anointing of the sick is offered on Holy Wednesday or by request.
- Confession: Sundays 9:00–9:30 AM and after Liturgy, or by appointment
- Marriage: contact pastor at least 6 months in advance
- Anointing: Holy Wednesday or by request
Faith Education and Formation
Faith formation for all ages is a core ministry. Children attend Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) classes on a current published schedule, while adults are served through adult education, Bible-study webinars, and teen / young adult groups. A ByziKids homeschool co-op, coordinated by parishioner Angela Wynn, brings together mothers and children of the parish for catechesis and fellowship in the parish hall during the summer.
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) — children's religious education
- Adult Education — check website for current schedule
- Webinars and Bible studies
- Teen and Young Adult Groups
- ByziKids homeschool co-op (summer meetings in the Parish Hall)
Byzantine Icon Workshops
Fr. Elias Rafaj leads Byzantine icon-writing workshops at St. Basil's. Workshops typically run for several full days, opening with prayer, talk, and discussion before group instruction begins; no prior artistic experience is required and both beginners and advanced artists are welcome. Past subjects have included the icon of the Mother of God 'Salus Populi Romani' from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
- Taught by Fr. Elias Rafaj
- All skill levels welcome
- Workshops scheduled throughout the year (see parish website)
- Materials / icon boards typically included; scholarships and discounts available upon request
Missions and Outreach
St. Basil's nurtures Byzantine Catholic mission outreach beyond Irving. The parish website lists affiliated outreaches including the Waco Byzantine Catholic Outreach and the Byzantine Catholic Outreach of Tulsa, extending the presence of Byzantine Catholic life across Texas and Oklahoma.
- Waco Byzantine Catholic Outreach (wacobyzantine.com)
- Byzantine Catholic Outreach of Tulsa
- Parish Holy Supper on Christmas Eve
- Parish Dinner on the Feast of St. Basil, January 1
- Sharing of the Pascha foods at Pascha (Easter)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by an administrator and two deacons, listed on both the parish website and the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh directory.
- Administrator: Very Reverend Elias L. Rafaj
- Deacon Craig Anderson
- Deacon Andrew Gill
Jurisdiction and Canonical Status
St. Basil's is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish canonically under the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Although it lies geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas, as an Eastern Catholic parish it falls under the Byzantine Ruthenian Metropolitan Church sui iuris and is listed in the official Archeparchy directory.
- Rite: Byzantine
- Church sui iuris: Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic
- Metropolitan Archeparchy: Pittsburgh
- Geographic territory: Roman Diocese of Dallas
- Status: Active parish
Contact and Location
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church at its rectory on East Union Bower Road in Irving, Texas. The parish bulletin is distributed via a dedicated email address.
- Address: 1118 E. Union Bower Road, Irving, TX 75061
- Rectory phone: (972) 438-5644
- Bulletin email: [email protected]
- Website: stbasilsinirving.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Robert Karl1988
First pastor-administrator; previously pastor of St. John Chrysostom in Houston, which had served the Dallas mission since 1982.