One of only two Byzantine Catholic congregations in Denver is looking to upgrade.
Holy Protection of the Mother of God has listed its existing church building at 1201 S. Elizabeth St. with an asking price of $1.1 million.
That’s $435 a square foot for the 2,600-square-foot structure, which listing agent Matt Harper said a buyer could use as a day care or residence.
“It’s a very interesting architectural building,” Harper said. “It’s surrounded by nothing but residential. It’s a really unique area.”
Harper, of Madison Commercial Properties, is also helping Holy Protection find a new home. He said the congregation has grown in recent years and would like to get something in the range of 6,000 to 10,000 square feet.
“It’s a tough project to do sometimes,” Harper said. “There’s not a whole lot of inventory of churches on the market, and if there are, they are really large or small. It’s tough to find.”
The church’s existing three-story building sits on the edge of the Belacro and Cory-Merrill neighborhoods and includes three office-like rooms, two bathrooms, a main hall where services are held and a small mezzanine on the third floor. The building dates to 1943, per the listing.
Harper said he’s already toured other faith-based groups and someone looking to convert the space into a yoga studio.
Byzantine Catholics have the same beliefs as other Catholics, but follow the traditions of the Eastern Catholic Church instead of the Western Catholic Church, which most American congregations align with. For example, Eastern Catholic services tend to be longer and involve repetition in prayers, and churches usually have many icons, or pictures, throughout.
Holy Protection is a parish under the Arizona-based Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix, according to its website. It was established in Denver in the 1970s and has operated at its current site since at least the early 2000s.
Holy Protection is one of two Byzantine Catholic churches in Denver, according to the Archdiocese of Denver.
This story was reported by our partner BusinessDen.
