About St. Sophia [Byzantine-Ukrainian] · The Colony, Texas
St. Sophia Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a Byzantine-rite Catholic parish serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex from a converted former Baptist church at 5600 N. Colony Boulevard in The Colony, Texas. It belongs to the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Nicholas in Chicago, the U.S. jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome), and its territory sits within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth. The parish gathers English- and Ukrainian-speaking faithful for the Divine Liturgy every Sunday morning, and it celebrated its 25th anniversary in November 2025 — a milestone marked by Bishop Venedykt (Aleksiychuk) presiding over a packed liturgy of some 180 worshippers, with overflow into the parish social hall. Come-and-see Byzantine worship in North Texas.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- Saint Sophia (Holy Wisdom)
- Rector
- Rev. Kostiantyn Popov
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Nicholas of Chicago (within the territorial boundaries of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth)
Why belong here
St. Sophia is the home of Byzantine Catholic worship in North Texas — a chance to experience the 2,000-year-old Ukrainian Greek Catholic liturgical, theological and spiritual heritage in full communion with Rome, just outside Dallas. Sunday Divine Liturgy is celebrated in both English and Ukrainian, and the community warmly welcomes non-Ukrainian Catholics who are drawn by the depth and beauty of the Eastern tradition. It is a close-knit parish where the pastor, a second priest, and a permanent deacon know their people, and where a network of Ukrainian-heritage families across the DFW Metroplex comes together to pray — especially now for peace in Ukraine.
Mass times at St. Sophia [Byzantine-Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each service
- 30 minutes after each service
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Adoration available — call the parish office at 972-370-4700 to schedule
Welcome
The parish greets visitors with the Ukrainian Catholic invitation 'Come and see!' and advertises itself as 'Celebrating 25 Years of Faith, Community and God's Blessings' as of late 2025. St. Sophia frames itself as a welcoming community for anyone who wishes to worship, pray, and grow in fellowship with their brethren in Christ — Ukrainian-heritage faithful and newcomers alike — with a stated mission to bring the Gospel message of salvation to all people and to build a community of faith, hope, and love.
Our Byzantine-Ukrainian Catholic Identity
St. Sophia is a parish of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Nicholas in Chicago, which belongs to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). The UGCC is in full and visible communion with the Holy See of Rome and is the largest of the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches in the worldwide Catholic communion, second in size only to the Latin (Roman) Catholic Church, with more than 5.5 million faithful. It is headed by the Major Archbishop of Kyiv and Halych, His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk. As part of the ancient Church of Kyiv, St. Sophia Parish strives to preserve its Byzantine liturgical, theological, and spiritual heritage in the heart of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.
- Eastern Catholic church in full communion with Rome
- Jurisdiction: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Nicholas of Chicago
- Liturgical rite: Byzantine (Ukrainian Greek Catholic)
- Globally led by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk
History of the Parish
St. Sophia was established around the year 2000 when Ukrainian-heritage faithful in North Texas — including founders Richard Bogdon, Deacon John Novocilsky Jr., and Marta Petrash — approached the bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Chicago about creating a parish in the Metroplex. While the community formed, a Ukrainian priest from Houston drove in monthly to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. In 2000 the parish purchased and renovated a former Baptist church at 5600 N. Colony Boulevard in The Colony, commissioning custom icons from a Pennsylvania artist and erecting an iconostasis. Under Fr. Pavlo Popov's leadership starting in 2011, attendance grew roughly threefold; his brother, Fr. Kostiantyn Popov, took over in August 2025, and on November 2, 2025 the parish celebrated its 25th anniversary with Bishop Venedykt (Aleksiychuk) presiding.
- Founded c. 2000
- Renovated former Baptist church purchased 2000
- Deacon John Novocilsky Jr. — co-founder, ordained 2007
- Fr. Pavlo Popov — administrator 2011 to August 2025
- 25th anniversary celebrated November 2, 2025
- Bishop Venedykt (Aleksiychuk) presided at anniversary
Future Plans
Planning is in the earliest stages for a new church on the same Colony Boulevard site that would roughly double seating capacity, add a choir loft, and feature the dome typical of Byzantine churches. Founder Richard Bogdon has framed the existing sanctuary as 'a steppingstone to what we can do going forward.' The growth is driven by both the local Ukrainian-heritage community and non-Ukrainian Catholics drawn to the Byzantine tradition from across the DFW Metroplex.
- New church on existing site
- Doubling of seating capacity
- Byzantine-style dome
- Choir loft
Clergy
The parish is currently served by pastor/administrator Rev. Kostiantyn Popov (ordained 2024), with Rev. Frank Avant assisting and deacon Rev. Dn. John Novocilsky Jr. — also one of the founding members of the parish — continuing in liturgical and pastoral roles. The team celebrates the Divine Liturgy, administers the sacraments, and provides pastoral care to parishioners and visitors throughout the DFW region. Bishop Venedykt (Aleksiychuk) of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Nicholas provides episcopal oversight, and the parish sits geographically within the territorial boundaries of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth.
- Rev. Kostiantyn Popov — Pastor
- Rev. Frank Avant — Priest
- Rev. Dn. John Novocilsky Jr. — Deacon and co-founder
Liturgical Schedule
Sunday is the principal day of worship at St. Sophia. In addition to regular weekly Liturgies, the parish celebrates Vespers, Matins, and the Divine Liturgy on solemn Byzantine feast days and holy days of obligation. Weekday Thursday Liturgies are suspended during the Great Fast or when cancelled for other reasons, in keeping with Byzantine liturgical practice.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 10:00 AM (English / Ukrainian)
- Thursday Divine Liturgy — 9:30 AM (except during Great Fast or when cancelled)
- Holy Days (weekday) — 7:00 PM
- Holy Days (Saturday) — 10:00 AM
- Vespers and Matins on feasts and holy days
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the full range of Byzantine-Catholic sacraments. Families are encouraged to contact the pastor early — particularly for the baptism of infants and for marriage, which requires a minimum of six months' preparation. Pastors make visits to parishioners who are hospitalized or homebound; the family is asked to notify the parish directly. Funeral arrangements should be coordinated with the parish office before contacting a funeral director.
- Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist — contact pastor at child's birth
- Marriage — minimum six months' notice required
- Visitation of the Sick — by family request, call 972-370-4700
- Funerals — call parish office before contacting funeral director
- Reconciliation (Confession) — before/after Liturgy or by appointment
Fasts, Feasts, and the Liturgical Year
St. Sophia observes the full Byzantine liturgical calendar, including the Bright Week, Ascension, Pentecost, the Apostles' Fast, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the feasts of Ss. Peter and Paul, the Dormition Fast, the Transfiguration, the Dormition of the Theotokos, the Indiction (new church year), the Nativity of the Theotokos, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the Protection of the Theotokos. The parish collects names of deceased family members for remembrance at the five All Souls Saturdays each year.
- Great Lent / Bright Week
- Ascension and Pentecost
- Apostles' Fast (early summer)
- Dormition Fast (August)
- Five All Souls Saturdays
- Special prayers for peace in Ukraine
Outreach, Fundraising, and Prayer for Ukraine
The parish hosts an ongoing varenyky (Ukrainian dumpling) fundraising order — the dedicated phone line (214-516-3582) is shared on the parish contact page. St. Sophia communities regularly take up collections and offer prayers for peace in Ukraine, for clergy, for those defending Ukraine against Russian aggression, and for the suffering faithful of their sister churches. Consistent with the UGCC's broader pattern of charitable giving, the parish also channels support to Ukrainian Catholic institutions.
- Varenyky orders — 214-516-3582
- Prayer for peace in Ukraine
- Collection of names of deceased for All Souls Saturdays
- Charitable support within and beyond the Ukrainian-heritage community
Contact, Location & Visit
St. Sophia sits at 5600 N. Colony Boulevard in The Colony, Texas 75056, a suburb on the north shore of Lewisville Lake within the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. The parish phone line is 972-370-4700 (also listed as fax). The dedicated varenyky-orders line is 214-516-3582. Visitors and newcomers are encouraged to use the parish contact form on the website or call the parish office, and to 'come and see' by joining the Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM.
- Address: 5600 N. Colony Blvd., The Colony, TX 75056
- Phone/Fax: 972-370-4700
- Varenyky orders: 214-516-3582
- Website: http://www.stsophiaukrainian.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Pavlo Popov2011 – August 2025
Administrator; grew the parish from about 40 to roughly 125 Sunday attendees (up to 300 on Easter/Christmas); departed to serve at a Chicago-area parish; brother of current pastor Kostiantyn Popov.
- Rev. Kostiantyn PopovAugust 2025 – present
Took over as administrator after his brother Fr. Pavlo Popov's transfer; ordained a priest in 2024.