Following the gala opening of the new stadium which featured a number of preliminaries including a pre-match appearance by First Minister Alex Salmond, the football began and it was Saints who started brightly.
Craig Dargo directed a lob over the head of Killie keeper Alan Combe only to see his effort cleared off the line by the backtracking Simon Ford.
Garry Brady then embarked on an exhilarating 50-yard run only to be thwarted by James Fowler's last-ditch tackle.
Following St Mirren's initial attacking flurry, Killie began to take control of the game and they took the lead after 28 minutes through debutant Kevin Kyle, who signed for the Rugby Park club in midweek from Coventry City.
Garry Hay sent over a precise cross from the left and the one-time Scotland striker rose to direct his header beyond Saints keeper Mark Howard.
The home side spurned a great chance to equalise just five minutes later when Dargo was upended in the penalty area by Combe.
Referee Willie Collum awarded Saints a penalty and booked Combe for his indiscretion but the keeper saved Jim Hamilton's weakly struck spot-kick.
Kilmarnock introduced Danny Invincibile in the early stages of the second half and the Australian frontman tested Howard immediately with a low angular drive.
At the other end, Hamilton volleyed wide from ten yards out then substitute Dennis Wyness missed an even better chance, shooting straight at Combe from close range.
Wyness atoned for his miss, however, with just seven minutes remaining, driving his shot home after Combe had failed to deal with a cross from Steven Robb.
Invincibile came close for Killie in injury time but Saints held out for a welcome point.