Saint Athanasius Orthodox Church is planning to purchase property at 2500 Chrisman Mill Road (Ky Hwy 1541) in Jessamine County, Kentucky. The property is southeast of Nicholasville. It consists of a large grassy hill that sits beside Mount Lebanon, the highest point in Jessamine County. The hill is readily visible from the surrounding area and is easily distinguished by the obelisk grave marker at its top.
To reach the property, take Main Street into downtown Nicholasville. At the Courthouse, go east on East Maple (Ky Hwy 39) for 2 miles. You will pass the High School on the left. Turn left on to Chrisman Mill Road (Ky Hwy 1541) and follow the road for approximately 3.5 miles. The hill is directly in front of you when you pass Chrisman Mill Vineyards and will be on the right when you reach it on the road. We anticipate that the US 27 Eastern Bypass around Nicholasville will simplify access from Lexington.
The zoning amendment to change from A1 (Agriculture) to Church and Cemetery was approved. Instead of the normal requirement that construction of the church must begin within 12 months, they approved the change for the next three years. Now pray that we will have the money necessary.
The land is currently zoned A1 (Agriculture). A petition for amendment has been filed for a church and cemetery. The petition will be considered by the Board of Adjustments on August 19, 2004 at 7:00 PM at the Courthouse. We can pray for this during the Dormition Fast.
After prayerful consideration during the Apostle's Fast, the parish approved the following statement at the parish meeting on July 11, 2004:
After prayer and fasting, seeking the will of God, the members of St. Athanasius Orthodox Church agree to encourage the Mission Council and their Priest to pursue with due diligence and the blessing of our Archbishop Dmitri the purchase of a minimum of seven acres of land located at 2005 Chrisman Mill Road, Jessamine County, Kentucky. May God's will be done, and may He be glorified.
Below are pictures and description of the land, which we'll call "the hill".
When you are almost to the property, you pass the famous Chrisman Mill Vineyards & Winery.
The hill is easily visible from the entrance of Chrisman Mill Vineyards.
It is believed that the first commercial wine grape vineyard in the United States was planted in 1798 just a few miles from here.
Mount Lebanon, the highest point in Jessamine County, is behind the hill in this picture.
The car and house help you get a sense of the size of the hill.
The entrance gate for the access road at the bottom of the hill is just to the left of the telephone pole. The road follows the fence row to the right.
At the base of the hill, there is a road that parallels a creek.
Just past the entrance gate, rain from a recent storm leaves puddles in the road.
The road provides a beautiful place to walk.
As you walk along, you can hear the creek to the right of the road.
Water cascades down limestone shelves beside the access road.
There is a small cemetery at the top of the hill. It includes the graves of John W. Hughes and Frances J. Hughes.
Hughes cemetery in Jessamine County.
The cemetery from the top of the hill.
This side of the cemetery marker reads John W. Hughes / Mar. 23, 1860 / Aug. 16, 1925.
This side of the cemetery marker reads Frances J. Hughes / Sept. 11, 1833 / Sept. 1, 1914.
Vineyards and farms surround the hill.
Chrisman Mill Road curves around the hill and then continues up toward Mount Lebanon.
His eminence Dmitri looked at the property when he visited us earlier this year.
Archbishop Dmitri and others stand near the cemetery.
The light shines near Archbishop Dmitri.
To give a sense of perspective, below are two photos with a red car on the hill.
The car is parked near the cemetery. The grass is much shorter in these pictures than in the others.
The car looks quite small even from part way down the hill.