Late 19th & early 20th Century: Immigration from Austria-Hungary and Russia brings many Russian families to the United States. A large group of them settles in the Waterbury area and establishes the Saint Vladimir’s and the Saint Michael’s Brotherhoods.

1906: On May 18th, the Brotherhoods meet together in a rented hall on Grand Street and, under the guidance of Father Theophan Buketoff from Ansonia, decide to establish a Russian Orthodox Church in Waterbury. A committee is elected to begin the process.
On August 5th the Brotherhoods meet again, this time under the direction of Father Vladimir Alexandrov. They submit a formal petition to Archbishop (Saint) TIKHON in New York, asking him to bless the establishment and building of a Church on Crown Street, dedicated to “The Nativity of the Birth-Giver of God.”
On Labor Day, September 3rd, the Cornerstone of the new Church is blessed by priests from Ansonia, New Britain and Bridgeport. Services are held in the basement until the Church is completed.

1907: In March, the first priest is assigned to the new Church. He is Father Nicholas Koshevich, who serves until October.
Father Vasily Martysh is assigned to Saint Mary’s, but only serves until December.
On December 17th, a meeting is held to welcome to Waterbury the new priest, Hieromonk Anthony (Doroshuk).

1908: On Labor Day, September 7th, Archbishop PLATON from New York blesses the completed Church building.

1909: In April, Father Basil Lisenkovsky becomes the priest of Saint Mary’s Church.

1910: Hieromonk Faust (Cholok) replaces Father Basil as rector of the Church in March.
In July, Father Jonah Miliasevich becomes pastor of Saint Mary’s, serving until 1912.

1911: The parish cemetery on Stillson Road was established. It was greatly expanded in 1947.

1912: Father George Popoff is appointed to Waterbury in June.

1914: Saint Olga’s Sisterhood is founded. This group of women has faithfully served the parish to the present day.

1916: In February, Father Vladimir Rihloff takes over at Saint Mary’s.

1917: On February 2nd, Father Peter Dzubay becomes pastor. He and his wife, Matushka Dominica, would stay in Waterbury until Father’s death on January 10, 1958.

1919: A rectory is built on Crown Street, next to the Church.
On July 1st, Saint Vladimir’s and Saint Michael’s Brotherhoods unite under the name “Saint Peter and Paul Brotherhood Society.”

1924: Valery Ivanov becomes Choir Director, serving until his death in 1954.

1937: The Waterbury “R” Club is founded. The Club has offered its members opportunities for fellowship and service to the Church to the present day.

1954: George Afonsky is named Choir Director on September 14th. He serves Saint Mary’s Church until his ordination to the Holy Priesthood in 1965. He is subsequently tonsured a monk with the name Gregory and elected Bishop of Sitka and Alaska, where he served until his retirement.

1956: The parish celebrates its 50th Anniversary on September 16th. Metropolitan LEONTY presides at the festivities.

1958: Father Michael Draovitch becomes pastor in July. The Saint Martha’s Altar Guild is established during his pastorate.

1964: Father Peter Pawlak is named rector in December.

1968: In May, the Bingo Program is begun in the Church Center on Crown Street. Although it has changed location twice, it is still in existence today raising money for the operation of the Church.
On June 17th, the parish purchases 12 acres of land on North Main Street in Waterbury as the future site for a new Church.
Father Joseph Pishtey comes to Waterbury in December to serve Saint Mary’s Church.

1972: Father Joseph blesses the site of the new Church on July 16th, and construction begins.

1974: The cornerstone of the Crown Street Church is transferred to the new Church on March 17th. Bishop Dmitri blesses the new Church the next Sunday. The Iconostasis from the old Church is donated to the Orthodox Church in Mexico.

1975: A new rectory is built on land adjacent to the Church.

1980: Ground is broken for the new Saint Mary’s Orthodox Center on September 21st. Nearly 400 parishioners and friends of the Church participate in blessing the Center on February 8th of the following year.

1987: Father Joseph Pishtey dies on May 7th, completing 19 years as rector of Saint Mary’s Church. Following his death, Fathers John Markovich, Marc Vranes and Nicholas Kiryluk serve the parish until a new rector can be appointed.
Father William Tarenko is assigned to Saint Mary’s on October 1st. During his time in Waterbury, the beautiful Church sign on North Main Street is built and handicapped access is installed in the Church.

1993: On December 1st, Father Steven Voytovich arrives in Waterbury to serve Saint Mary’s, leaving in September of the following year. After Father Steven’s departure, Father John Pawelchak serves the parish until a new rector can be appointed.

1996: Father Theodore Shomsky is named rector of the Church.
Saint Mary’s celebrates its 90th Anniversary and Mortgage Burning on September 8th.

1999: Father Joseph Woodill becomes pastor of the Church.
A set of four bells, cast in Russia, is purchased and hung in the bell tower with the three bells which were moved from the Crown Street location.

2001: Father Matthew Searfoorce is named rector.

2006: Father Dennis Rhodes is assigned to Saint Mary’s Church on January 1st.
As part of the parish’s Centennial Celebration, the Bell Ringers from Chase Collegiate School give a demonstration to the Senior’s Group at its April meeting, the parish sponsors a concert of music by Russian composers by the Cheshire Symphony Orchestra in June and a group of parishioners travel by bus to New Haven to see exhibits at the Yale Museum of British Art (“English Silver in the Court of the Tsar”) and the Knights of Columbus Museum (“Orthodox Crosses and Easter Eggs”).
The Parish celebrates its Hundredth Anniversary on August 27th, with Metropolitan HERMAN, Bishop NIKON and visiting clergy, including the parishioners of our sister Church of SS Cyril and Methodius in Terryville, in attendance. A Banquet follows at the Grand Oak Villa in Oakville.