Our first service was on September 10, 1989 in a classroom of Chapman College on Fig Street in Lancaster.

Fr. Nicholas was transferred to Camp St. Nicholas in Frazier Park, CA in 1981. While working as the new priest and caretaker of the camp, he was “loaned” to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese from 1982-1989. During this time Fr. Nicholas started St. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Lancaster, CA. Father Nicholas left St. Constatine & Helen's to start a Pan Orthodox Mission where the liturgy would be done in English.  In 1989, Father Nicholas took on the founding of Holy Cross, an Antiochian Orthodox Mission, in Palmdale, CA. ( Originally started in a classroom at Chapman College in Lancaster, CA., before moving to Palmdale.)  Holy Cross became a second home for Fr. Nicholas and his family for the next 20 years as they cumulatively drove thousands of miles come sun, rain, or snow to serve the families within their little church community while simulataneously running Camp St. Nicholas in Frazier Park.

Welcome to Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Palmdale, California.  We serve the spiritual needs of residents in the High Desert of northern Los Angeles County who worship Jesus Christ the same way our ancestors did over 2,000 years ago.  We are members of the Antiochian Archdiocese where people were first called “Christians” in the city of Antioch around 40-42 A.D. (Acts 11:26).  At that time Antioch was a major city in the Roman province of Syria.

Although we are a “pan-orthodox” congregation with services conducted in English, you mayoccasionally hear prayers (and hymns) sung in Arabic, Russian, Greek, and Spanish.  Orthodox Christianity was preached to “all nations” using the language most familiar with the native cultures.  Our Church never assumed God only spoke Latin or Greek, therefore, granting a small measure of ethnicity here at Holy Cross is our way of honoring our predecessors who came from many places to the “New World” to spread the Gospel.

By drawing lots, the name “Holy Cross” Antiochian Orthodox Mission was established in September 1989 by eighteen families under the guidance of Archpriest and Very Revered Father Nicholas Neyman (d. 2022).

The intent of our mission (which coincided with a visit by Fr. Peter Gillquist) was to establish a church where Christians of all ethnic backgrounds would be welcomed and feel comfortable.  Other objectives were to spread the Orthodox faith throughout the high-desert community to those who yearned to worship God as they have for 2,000 years.  We at Holy Cross are “old school,” replete with incense, priestlyvestments, acapella choir, icons, candles, and a host of other sacredotal items of worship that date back to the Apostolic Age.

Holy Cross celebrated its first liturgy in a classroom generously provided by a private liberal arts college operating in Lancaster, California.  In 1991, Holy Cross trailed the college to a new facility in the neighboring city of Palmdale.  The early mission became known as the “rollingChurch” where the portable altar was mounted on metal casters.  Every Sunday, the Director of the academic center assembled and disassembled the church as to not interfere with classes during the week.

In 1993, Holy Cross rented an (Episcopal) Church in Palmdale and conducted liturgy on Sunday evenings for approximately two years until they moved to their current location on 6th Street East in Palmdale.  The property was owned by long-time parishioner, Anna Kennepohl (Semerenko) and her husband Kenneth.  The couple allowed the mission to serve liturgy in a tiny room within the business building that was originally built as a motel in the 1950’s.

Like molecules filling a vacuum, Holy Cross began to expand from one small room to another until it eventually ran out of room.  It was at this time that the Kennepohls deeded the property over to the Antiochian Archdiocese in 1999.  At last, after ten years of Bedouin-like movement across the Antelope Valley, Archpriest Nicholas was able to remove the casters beneath his “portable” alter and hang his hat in a permanent location.

Alas, Fr. Nicholas retired in 2005 and moved to Post Falls Idaho.  Archimandrite Dwayne (Pederson) of Blessed Memory assisted Fr. Nicholas from 2003 until 2005.  A succession of highly talented and spiritual priests filled the ranks and served with love and patience including Fr. Michael (Tassos) and assisted by Fr. Paul Schelbach for a year-and-a-half.  

Throughout the years walls were removed creating more space to worship for our expanding church family.  In 2006 the parish council allocated $25,000 to renovate and add a new altar and iconostasis to the main sanctuary.  In addition to this renovation, Holy Cross created a full-sized kitchen and a fellowship hall from the myriad of rooms that previously made up the building.  All of this was made possible through hours of labor and generous building donations by devoted parishioners.

Holy Cross made another significant change when Fr. Tom (O’Dea) became our permanent pastor in 2007.  As a retired Dean, Fr, Tom’s focus was to embrace the youth and creating activities that culminated with the All-Night Vigil on Holy Friday during Great Lent.  Unfortunately Fr. Tom’s health deteriorated and he fell asleep in the Lord two years later on July 10, 2011.  His successor was Fr. Nathan (Thompson) who was ordained at Holy Cross and served as our priest for six-years until he was reassigned to Ben Loman on August 2, 2015.

Fr. Minas (Sarchizian) immediately began serving as our “interim” priest on loan from St. Michaels until July 17, 2016

From the time of Fr. Minas’ resignation, Holy Cross had a succession of priests over the following eight months that included Fr. George Taweel, Fr. Patrick, Fr. Michael Tassos, Fr. John Finley, who was the mainstay pastor during this long period, and finally Fr. Nicholas Hanna, who was appointed our full time and permanent pastor on Sunday March 26, 2017..

After serving two years, Fr. Nicholas (Hanna) was reassigned to Edmonton, Canada.  His untimely departure in 2019 left Holy Cross in a limbo until Fr. John Finley once again came to sustain our congregation until we finally received a “lasting” priest in 2020, Fr. George (Taweel), our current and beloved pastor.

So here we are, and welcome to a faith that has withstood the test of time.