Traditional Orthodox Christians in Tennessee

[Joseph]

I live in Smyrna, TN, a suburb of Nashville. I have just left the Antiochians and would like to know if there are others in this area who are committed to True Orthodoxy.

[Justin Kissel]

The only one I'm aware of is about 52 miles South-East of you, in Liberty TN. It's a ROCOR parish, and the priest is Protopriest Gregory Williams (Email: frgregory@sjkp.org -- Phone: 615-536-5239; 615-631-8375 [cell]). Fwiw, Liberty is also where Saint John of Kronstadt Press is.

[Justin Kissel]

If that is too far to travel and you are looking to relocate any time in the near future, it might be of interest to know that the periodical Living Orthodoxy had this to say, though it was back in 1998 and I don't know the status of this project currently:

"Looking for a new home? Tired of the big city? In an earlier issue, we wrote of the rather suprising number of pieces of property available for sale in the immediate area around Agape Community (and the Church of the Annunciation and the St. John of Kronstadt Press). It seems that more possibilities continue to open up.

The Community has purchased (with the assistance of a large in-family loan) one of the farms of which we previously wrote... a 60+ acre hill tract with a nice 4-bedroom home overlooking the Clear Fork Valley. It is just 30 minutes (if you're in a hurry) walk from the church, just a few minutes by car from either the church or the town of Liberty. This house is available for rental (or purchase) by a family desiring to live here as members of the parish but at some remove from the daily beehive. The farm also offers numerous possible sites for newly built small to medium size cabins, as well as perhaps two or three larger homes.

We have also contracted to purchase a tract of about 30 acres of undeveloped land, fronting state highway 53, just south of the entry into our immediate hollow... just a few minutes' drive from the church or from town. This tract could comfortably hold five or six homes with some common ground. "City" water and natural gas are available on the property. We are holding this property for sale in tracts of 5 acres to families within the Church who wish to settle here. In the town of Liberty, there is a very pleasant medium-sized older home (seems to be in good condition) for sale, on a generous lot, at a cost of $30,000.

So... we would be delighted to have some good (Orthodox) neighbors, and will be happy to help get more information for anyone who might be interested. As always, visitors are welcome!" Issue #111 -- Vol. XIX #3 (May-June 1998)