St. Nicholas the Wonderworker began as just a few families commuting about an hour from Davenport, Iowa, to attend St. Raphael of Brooklyn Orthodox Church in Iowa City. Together with the families of some University of Iowa students from the Quad Cities who were also attending St. Raphael, this group was approached by Bishop MARK, then Bishop of Toledo and the Midwest with the Antiochian Archdiocese, about starting a mission in Davenport. After meetings with Bishop MARK, the late Father Peter Gillquist, and then Deacon James Mackoul, the group decided to start holding a weekly Vespers service. The first service (pictured below) took place on May 4, 2010, in the chapel at St. Paul Lutheran Church and was led by Father Ignatius Valentine from St. Raphael of Brooklyn.

This dedicated group was able to celebrate its first Divine Liturgy on August 29, 2010, in the Rogalski Center on the campus of St. Ambrose University in Davenport. Father James Mackoul officiated, with Father Elias Khouri concelebrating. Shortly thereafter, Divine Liturgies began to be served a few times each month in a classroom at the Institute for Therapeutic Massage in Davenport by Father James. In February 2012 we moved to a space in the Village of East Davenport, and then from 2016 through 2025, we offered our services at a location on Brady Street, in what is now the Melody of Hope Advocacy Center.

In 2025 St. Nicholas was at last able to purchase its own building at 4820 North Pine Street. Fr. Jared Johnson is currently pastor at St. Nicholas and one of its founding members. He served at St. Nicholas for many years as a deacon before being ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 2022. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker has been keeping a regular, weekly schedule of services since that time.