In 1983, Russian emigrants and Native Americans who converted to Orthodoxy decided to establish their own Orthodox parish that would follow the traditions of the Orthodox Church. They submitted an application to the Chicago and Mid-America Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Archbishop Seraphim timely forwarded the necessary documents to the Synod, and the application was approved. For a long time, parishioners held services in rented facilities until a church was built with the funds of the Orthodox community, which opened in September 2002.