St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church was founded in 1991. At that time, Fr. David Moser moved into the Boise area with the blessing of Archbishop Alypy of Chicago and the Midwest. Although the move was necessitated by secular employment, Archbishop Alypy had also given a blessing to begin a new mission in Boise, Idaho. It was determined that Idaho was more properly within the Diocese of Western America under Archbishop Anthony of San Francisco. Archbishop Anthony confirmed the blessing of Archbishop Alypy for the founding of the mission.

Although there was already a well established Greek parish in the city, within a few weeks a small group of Orthodox Christians desiring a parish in the Russian tradition had gathered together and formed the nucleus of the new mission. This group, comprised of both Russians and Americans, dedicated their new mission to St. Seraphim the Wonderworker of Sarov.