Orthodox Church Serving Tampa, FL
Tampa is the heart of the Tampa Bay region, a city of more than 400,000 people stretched from downtown and Channelside through Westshore, Hyde Park, and South Tampa, and out to New Tampa and the University area. If you live in Tampa and you are looking for an Orthodox church, you have several options inside the city. St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church is one more, about 25 minutes west of downtown across the Howard Frankland Bridge in Pinellas Park. We welcome Tampa residents drawn to the Ukrainian Orthodox tradition or to a bilingual English and Ukrainian Divine Liturgy (Літургія українською та англійською).
Drive Time and Route from Tampa
From downtown Tampa, the drive to St. Michael is about 25 minutes on a Sunday morning. The route is simple:
- Take I-275 south from downtown
- Cross the Howard Frankland Bridge into Pinellas County
- Exit at Park Boulevard (exit 31) and head east
- Turn north on 49th Street, east on 102nd Avenue
- Arrive at 9201 60th St
From Westshore, allow 20 minutes. From Hyde Park and South Tampa, the Gandy Bridge is often a shorter alternative to I-275. From Channelside and downtown, I-275 over the Howard Frankland is fastest. From New Tampa or the University area, allow 35 to 45 minutes. Sunday morning traffic across the bridges is generally light. No tolls. Parking is free on-site.
Why Some Tampa Residents Make the Drive
Tampa has good Orthodox parishes within the city, and most Tampa Orthodox families belong to one of them. For those who do come over the bridge to us, the reasons are consistent.
Ukrainian Orthodox tradition. Tampa’s Ukrainian-American community, including many families who arrived after 2022 through Uniting for Ukraine sponsorship, find their spiritual home at St. Michael because we are the Ukrainian Orthodox parish on the western side of the bay. The Liturgy follows the Ukrainian liturgical tradition, hymns, and calendar that Ukrainian families want to pass to their children.
Bilingual Divine Liturgy. Every Sunday Liturgy is celebrated in both Ukrainian and English. Older parishioners pray in their first language; children and grandchildren who grew up speaking English follow alongside comfortably.
A pathway for inquirers. Some Tampa residents have no connection to Ukraine. They are seekers drawn to Orthodox Christianity through reading, friendships, or a sense that something is missing in their current church home. If that is you, Fr. Stephen Siniari will sit with you and answer your questions. Inquirers are welcome at any Sunday Divine Liturgy. Come and see.
Tampa Neighborhoods We Serve
Hyde Park and South Tampa. Among the closest Tampa neighborhoods to our parish. From Bayshore Boulevard or MacDill Avenue, you can be at the church in about 25 minutes via the Gandy Bridge or I-275.
Westshore. Already on the western edge of the city; the shortest commute of any Tampa neighborhood, about 20 minutes on a Sunday morning.
Channelside and Downtown. I-275 south across the Howard Frankland Bridge. Plan for 25 to 30 minutes from a downtown high-rise.
New Tampa, University area, and Carrollwood. These northern Tampa neighborhoods are farther from the bridge. Allow 35 to 45 minutes. Some New Tampa families find the drive to Holy Protection Ukrainian Orthodox in Dover, our sister parish, shorter than the drive to us.
Other Orthodox Parishes in Tampa
We want you to know what is closer to home before you commit to a Sunday drive over the bridge.
- St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Tampa. Founded 1956, a large established parish, beautiful music, services substantially in English.
- St. Philip the Apostle Orthodox Church, Tampa (OCA). All-English services, strong adult education. A natural first visit for inquirers who want the Liturgy in English.
- St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Tampa. Antiochian Archdiocese, English and some Arabic.
- Holy Protection Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Dover. Our sister parish, same UOC of the USA jurisdiction, same Ukrainian Orthodox tradition. Closer to East Tampa and New Tampa than we are.
For Tampa residents, the choice among Orthodox parishes is usually not about distance. It is about which liturgical and cultural tradition speaks to your family. Visit a few. Pray in each. The right parish is the one that becomes home.
Sacraments for Tampa Families
Tampa families come to St. Michael for baptism, weddings, and memorial services when they want the Ukrainian Orthodox tradition specifically, or when they want a bilingual ceremony so that English-speaking and Ukrainian-speaking relatives can both pray comfortably. Each Sacrament can be served in English, Ukrainian, or bilingually based on family preference. For weddings, please contact Fr. Stephen at least six months in advance. For baptisms and memorial services, reach out as early as you can.
Plan Your First Visit
Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM. Hours and Confession: 9:30 AM. Coffee and fellowship after Liturgy.
Address: 9201 60th St, Pinellas Park, FL 33782.
Phone: 727-777-4450. Parish Priest: Fr. Stephen Siniari.
If you are coming from Tampa, plan for about 25 minutes from downtown or Westshore, longer from New Tampa. Read our first visit guide before you come. We hope to see you Sunday.
Other Tampa Bay cities we serve
If you live elsewhere in the Bay area, we also have driving guides and what-to-expect notes for:
Inner Pinellas County: Pinellas Park · Largo · Seminole · Dunedin · Palm Harbor
Hillsborough County: Brandon · Riverview
Pasco County: Wesley Chapel · Land O’ Lakes · New Port Richey