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On April 29, 1973, an exploratory Liturgy was celebrated in Orlando, Florida, to see how many would support a Mission Church. That Liturgy was attended by over one hundred people. In October, 1973, regular Divine Liturgies were established in the Orlando area. Fr. Leo Schlosser, O.S.B. of St. Leo's
Abbey, was responsible for weekly Liturgies. In 1977 the first resident
priest, Fr. Robert Slasinski, was assigned to Orlando to serve the Mission
Church which was named Transfiguration of our Lord Mission. Fr. Robert Slasinski resided at St. Therese parish in St. Petersburg. In 1979, Fr. James Fiore was assigned as the first pastor of Transfiguration of Our Lord Mission. In November, 1980, the
present church on Sand Lake Road was purchased. In the ensuing years, the
church became a beacon to guests coming into Orlando. Realizing that the church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord was a church calling all to worship, the name of the church was
changed to St. Nicholas of Myra, patron of travelers and who is also patron
of the Byzantine Church. In 1984, Fr. Sal Pignato was assigned as the second
pastor of St. Nicholas Catholic Church. In 1991, the church of St. Nicholas
of Myra in Orlando went from Mission status to being a full fledged church. Thus, over the
years, St. Nicholas Catholic Church has become a church visited by guests of
our Nation and guests literally throughout the world. Housed in our church
is the Shrine of St. Nicholas. It is an Icon of St. Nicholas that is over
300 years old and comes from Russia. We invite all to come to St. Nicholas
Church to visit the Shrine of St. Nicholas.
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