Source: Orthodox Observer
November 7, 2025
In a quiet corner of the Rocky Mountain West, something remarkable is happening. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Pocatello, Idaho—founded in 1915, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and still serving as Idaho’s oldest Orthodox Church—is witnessing an unprecedented influx of new members from diverse religious backgrounds. Most notably, young adults and families from Roman Catholic, Protestant, and nondenominational churches, as well as from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have been making the journey to the ancient liturgy of Eastern Orthodoxy.
The Numbers Tell the Story
This demographic shift is striking in a region where Latter-day Saints comprise significant portions of the population—26.4% in Idaho, representing the largest religious denomination in the state, and 11.5% in Wyoming. Yet, increasingly, young families and especially young men from these communities are finding themselves drawn to the ancient traditions and unchanging liturgical practices of the Orthodox Church.
Fr. Constantine Zozos, who has been serving full time these past six years at the Assumption Church, has baptized 59 adult and 31 child Catechumens and Chrismated 54 adults and 5 children, bringing 128 new Orthodox Christians into the faith. Moreover, the numbers have been increasing exponentially every year. Currently there are 40 catechumens and over 20 inquirers attending catechism and Bible study classes in person and on Zoom. The church has had to move the classes from the church conference room into the social hall and to buy a large-screen TV to accommodate all those in attendance.
… Read the rest at Orthodox Observer.
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