Greek Orthodox congregation adds dome, diversity to Lexington's 'church row'

Placement of dome on the new Greek Orthodox Church on Tates Creek Road in Lexington. Time-lapse video by Pablo Alcala | Herald-Leader KENTUCKY.COM

The unofficial "church row" on Tates Creek Road which includes Centenary United Methodist, Immanuel Baptist and Tates Creek Christian is about to get a little bigger and more architecturally diverse.

The Panagia Pantovasilissa Greek Orthodox Church, being built at 3005 Tates Creek Road, should be ready for occupancy in July, said Dr. Dennis Karounos, who chairs the construction committee for the church.

For its first 65 years in Lexington, the church operated at a building a little more than a mile closer to downtown. The site was too small and had no off-street parking or handicap accessibility, Karounos said.

"We used on-street parking for 65 years," he said.

The new church, which serves about 100 families, has 53 parking spaces, Karounos said.

The new church is designed in the Byzantine style, Karounos said, with domes and a bell tower. The 11,300-square-foot structure will be ready for worship in July, but it won't be completely finished. Finishing the interior will require $400,000 on the $2 million-plus building, Karounos said.

Meanwhile, the exterior will be completed, and the interior of the social hall, kitchen and classrooms. The social hall will be divided in half, with part of its used to worship, until money is raised to complete the interior.

The social hall alone is bigger than the church's entire square footage at 920 Tates Creek Road, Karounos said.

The Byzantine architecture draws driver and pedestrian attention along Tates Creek. On Wednesday, the church's huge dome was set into place. The job required a special crane from outside of Lexington.

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Greek Orthodox congregation adds dome, diversity to Lexington's 'church row'