On Saturday, September 21, the leave-taking of the feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, clergy and faithful from throughout the Archdiocese of Washington gathered at Saint Matthew Church in Columbia, MD, for the annual Archdiocesan Assembly.

At the invitation of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, His Grace Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska will visit Washinton, DC, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvanian with the wonderworking Sitka Icon of the Mother of God beginning Monday, March 25, 2024. The icon, painted by the Russian Iconographer Vladimir Lukich Borovikvsky in the late 18th century in the "Kazan" style, has had numerous miracles attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Sitka. His Grace will also offer presentations on the history of the Diocese of Alaska as well as its current needs.

On Saturday, March 16, the parish of All Saints of America Orthodox Church in Alexandria is pleased to welcome you to a retreat led by Dr. Peter Bouteneff titled "How to be a sinner: Understanding myself as a sinner."

Dr. Bouteneff, who is a Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, will explore topics that include: uderstanding myself as sinner, the uses and abuses of guilt and shame, other people's sins, the gifts of the "sinner identity," and God's mercy and mine.

His talk is based on his SVS Press bestseller, How to be a sinner. 

There is no cost to attend this retreat and all are welcome.

For additional questions, please contact Fr. Alessandro at fatheralessandro@gmail.com

We invite you to join us for a concert of Psalmody on January 19 at 7:30 pm at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Potomac, MD. Musical selections will include both new compositions and music you may already be familiar with. The concert will highlight the beauty of the psalms as they are incorporated into our daily, weekly, and yearly Orthodox liturgical cycle.

Join us as the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Washington gather to celebrate the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC. 

On Wednesday, September 13, at 7 pm, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon will celebrate the hierarchical Festal Vigil. Archdiocesan clergy are invited to serve. His Beatitude will perform the Rite of Exaltation of the Holy Cross during the vigil. The Archdiocesan Choir will sing the responses. On Thursday, September 14, at 9 am, His Beatitude will serve the hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Archdiocesan clergy are also welcome to serve for the Divine Liturgy. Responses will be sung by the cathedral choir.

On Saturday, July 8, the Archdiocese of Washington held the first in a series of vocational training sessions. The training, held at St. Mark Church in Bethesda, MD, drew over 20 deacons, subdeacons, and servers of all skill levels from throughout the area.
 

Archdiocesan participants in the OCA's Diaconal Vocations Program participate in the annual OCA pratical training program held at St. Vladimir's Seminary this June, 2023.

The Archdiocesan Choir of Washington, D.C. gave its premiere concert on Sunday, August 28 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral. The group was formed earlier this year with the blessing and support of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. Led by Juliana Woodill, the choir sang works from Great Vespers and Divine Liturgy written entirely by American Orthodox composers for the English language. This project began with a call for compositions in February and over one hundred pieces were received for consideration. In selecting music, singability for the average church choir was of primary importance, keeping in mind the need for simplicity, beauty, and flexible voicings. Secondarily, the hope was to share music that is both uniquely American and liturgically appropriate. 

On July 21, 2022 the Holy Synod, meeting under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, issued the following statement on Same-Sex Relations and Sexual Identity.

The Archdiocesan Choir of Washington D.C. was formed in February of 2022 with the encouragement and blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. The ensemble is comprised of singers from the OCA parishes in the Diocese of Washington. They sing for Church services throughout the area, including ordinations, conferences, assemblies, and hierarchical liturgies. Additionally, they present concerts with the goal of sharing Orthodox music to the larger community around Washington DC. The choir hopes to promote musical and liturgical education in the Diocese while bringing together singers from all the area parishes. We welcome singers high school age and up who want to serve the Archdiocese through music.

Call for compositions! We are looking for music from Great Vespers & Divine Liturgy for our first concert. The hope is that you will browse your portfolio of already composed music and select your top 5 (or fewer) hymns for consideration. Composers will be compensated for all music performed. The goal is to select music that can be sung well by a diverse range of musical abilities and experience. Additionally, it will be made available on the Seraphim Six website (www.seraphim6.com), and you will have the opportunity to work with that publishing company to host other compositions as well.

On Wednesday, July 28, at 7:00 PM ET, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon will be hosted by Archpriest Thomas Soroka to discuss and formally announce the 20th All-American Council which will take place in Baltimore, MD on July 18-22, 2022.  His Beatitude will address various aspects of the All-American Council and will introduce the theme as approved by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America. His Beatitude will also entertain questions which can be submitted through the comments section.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon has standardized the application process for the Diaconal Vocations Program.  You may download this document here.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon will be traveling throughout the Archdiocese of Washington from April 24 to May 9, serving and celebrating the Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Paschal services in various parishes throughout the Archdiocese.

Wonderful chance to meet and interact with Orthodox youth throughout the U.S. Led by two experienced and engaging youth workers, Fr. Tim Hojnicki and Fr. Ben Tucci. For more info, including registration, click here.

On Thursday, December 31, 2020, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has issued an encyclical entitled, “We Rejoice Even in Tribulation”: An Encyclical of Hope. The Holy Synod offers this work out of love and gratitude to its faithful at the end of this year. The Synod also intends for the encyclical to be seen as an encouragement for the year to come. In the encyclical, the Synod seeks to find meaning in the year that has past, which has been marked by a pandemic, political polarization, economic anxiety, and civil unrest, and calls the faithful to a renewed faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and service to one another.

On Saturday, February 22, at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated the Divine Liturgy for Memorial Saturday. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Tikhon served a Trisagion Service for the departed during which he commemorated all the departed bishops who have served and labored in North America since 1794. After Liturgy His Beatitude presided over the Archdiocesan council meeting.

On Sunday January 26, 2020 His Grace Bishop Alexis of Bethesda celebrated his first Divine Liturgy as a bishop at St. Mark Orthodox Church in Bethesda, MD. His Grace’s first Episcopal act was to tonsure and ordain Alexander Norton to be a Reader. Many Years to to His Grace Bishop Alexis of Bethesda! And Many Years to the newly ordained reader Alexander! 

On Friday and Saturday, January 24-25, was the Nomination, Proclamation, and Consecration of Bishop elect Alexis (Trader) as Bishop of Bethesda of the Orthodox Church in America. The events took place at St Nicholas Cathedral in Washington D.C. The Presiding Hierarch was the Most Blessed TIKHON, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were members of the Holy Synod and His Grace Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta.

On Friday, January 24, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, joined by members of the Holy Synod, and brother bishops from other jurisdictions, led Orthodox faithful gathered at the 47th March for Life in Washington D.C. in a prayer service for the innocent children whose lives have been taken.

The Right Reverend Daniel celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Washington D.C. The day marked his 5th anniversary of Consecration as bishop in the Orthodox Church in America. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon greeted faithful after Liturgy.

Eudoxia Alexandra Platoff (nee Pogrebniak), fondly known as Donya, passed away on January 10, 2020, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She was born on March 5, 1927 in Derby, Connecticut. Donya attended Boston University’s School of Nursing and upon graduation, married Dr. Gennady E. Platoff MD on September 12, 1948. Donya and Genna traveled and lived throughout the world - Berlin, Paris and Teheran to name a few. They lived in the Fairfax, VA area for over 35 years.

On January 6-7, 2020, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated Vigil and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord (Old Style) at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, Washington D.C.  At the conclusion of Liturgy, Fr. George Kokhno presented His Beatitude with French Bibles restored by parishioners of St. Nicholas Cathedral.  Today marked Elena Forrest’s first hierarchical and Nativity Liturgy as choir director.

On Monday, January 6, 2020, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated the great feast of Theophany at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC. This feast commemorates the Baptism of the Lord and the revelation of the Most Holy Trinity to the world (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22).

On Sunday, January 5, 2020, His Beatitude celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the mission parish of All Saints of North America, Alexandria, Virginia. During the course of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude awarded Archpriest Michael Koblosh the mitre in recognition of his decades of service to the Orthodox Church. Also serving at the Divine Liturgy was Archpriest Michael Westerberg, who was celebrating his 45th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. May God grant Archpriest Michael and Matushka Nadia Koblosh; and Archpriest Michael Westerberg and Matushka Lydia many years of health. See below His Beatitude's words to Archpriest Michael at the awarding of the mitre. 

SYOSSET, NY [OCA] A message from Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America: On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America concelebrated the Divine Liturgy for the feast of Saint John Chrysostom.  At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, Secretary of the Holy Synod, read a proclamation of the Holy Synod announcing the anniversary celebrations for the Canonization of Saint Herman of Alaska, and the reception of the Tomos of Autocephaly.

On Sunday, November 24, during the Divine Liturgy at the Primatial Cathedral, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon ordained Larry Basalyga to Subdeaconate. We congratulate and wish Subdeacon Larry many blessed years of service to the Church!

Fr. Michael Oleksa -- a gifted, charismatic, story-teller, lover of Alaska and recognized 'tribal elder' -- regaled some 40 attendees with his stories of Alaskan saints, using their lives to make some key points about missionary outreach.

Beginning last year, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon has asked OCA faithful to prayerfully give directly to the work of the OCA national organization on the last weekend in October. Our OCA chancery in New York supports a variety of vital ministries for Orthodoxy in America, including missionary tools like the national church planting grant, the fantastic OCA website, church music resources that most parishes freely use, and more. His Beatitude is also working hard to help revitalize a nationwide network for youth ministry. We appreciate all these things and we need these things. I ask our entire parish community to consider a gift--above and beyond our tithes and offerings to our parish. We do indeed support our diocese (and our diocese passes a small portion to the OCA national chancery), but it is an honor to give directly to the work of His Beatitude, who has worked tirelessly to support the health and growth of the Orthodox Church in America on a continental level! OCA Stewards Sunday will be next Sunday, the 27th."

The parish community enjoys a diverse representation of ethnic backgrounds. As an outreach opportunity to share a variety of cultures with the surrounding community, the parish hosted its first Multi-Cultural Festival in October 2008. More than 4,000 people came to experience the entertainment, home-made ethnic foods, crafts, and children’s area. The event was declared to be just what had been missing from Columbia. Join us for our 12th Annual Multi-Cultural Festival!

OKTOBERFEST – Friday, October 4;   6-9 pm (Beer Garden opens at 5 pm)
MULTI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL – Saturday, October 5;   11 am – 7 pm
MULTI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL – Sunday, October 6;   12 pm – 5:30 pm

***Our Oktoberfest and Festival are completely under tents! Our event is held, rain or shine!

The Orthodox Church of St. Matthew

7271 Eden Brook Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
240.755.0324

located in the Kings Contrivance Village Center

Metropolitan Tikhon served the second ever Sunday Divine Liturgy at the new Fairfax Mission Station.  This Mission Station was started in October 2018 as a result of a demographic study that showed an 'underserved area' in southwest Fairfax County, VA.  Thanks to the grace of God, dedicated clergy and choir director, and the generosity of the Catholic Church which has lent us the use of one of their churches -- the Mission Station has been thriving.  Until last month  it has mainly been serving Saturday Vespers, with average attendance around 20 or so, with a high of 43.  But starting this August, it has begun serving one Sunday Divine Liturgy per month.  It was blessed, honored and thrilled to have His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon serve its second ever Sunday Divine Liturgy on Sep. 29 -- the second of many more to come! (For more information on the Mission Station, location and service times, see https://www.facebook.com/fairfaxmissionstation/)

The 2019 Archdiocesan Assembly was held on September 28 at St. Luke Orthodox Church. It opened with Divine Liturgy with responses beautifully sung by the choir from the newly formed Fairfax Mission Station. At the end of the Liturgy, a Gramota was awarded to Michael Thompson for his many years of service to the Archdiocese and to the parish of St. Mark.  Building on the year long work of the Finance Committee -- the Assembly unanimously voted to transition to First Fruits Giving as a spiritually based way to support the Archdiocese.  Other key items included the passage of the 2020 budget, a call for volunteers to help with the 20th All American Council to be held in Baltimore in July 2021, and the election of Fr. Valery Shemchuk as the clergy delegate to the Metropolitan Council and Gregory Honshul to the Auditing Committee.

During Great & Holy Week, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated the Divine Services at various parishes of the Archdiocese of Washington.

His Beatitude celebrated the 4th Sunday of Great Lent at St Nicholas Cathedral. The commemoration of the repose of Saint Tikhon of Moscow, His Beatitude's patron saint, was also celebrated yesterday. April 7 is also the anniversary of His Beatitude's monastic tonsure. 

On Sunday, February 24, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the clergy and faithful at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington DC.

On Saturday, February 23 a meeting of the Archdiocesan Council, presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, was held at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington DC.

On Friday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC hosted a spectacular evening of music by the St Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale. Tenebrae: Music of Holy Week from East & West.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, together with other OCA hierarchs, clergy, seminarians and faithful, participated in the annual March for Life in Washington, DC on Friday, January 18.  The march is a pro-life rally protesting abortion, held in the nation's capital near the anniversary of the infamous decision in the United States Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade. Joining the OCA Bishops for the prayer service for the unborn were His Grace the Right Reverend Thomas of the Antiochian Archdiocese and Alexander Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

On Monday, January 7, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon led the Old Calendar celebration of the Nativity of Christ at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC.

On Sunday, January 6, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon led the celebration of Theophany at St. Matthew Orthodox Church in Columbia, MD.

On Saturday, September 29th, clergy and faithful from the Archdiocese of Washington gathered under the leadership of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon for their annual assembly, hosted this year at St. Mark Orthodox Church in Bethesda, Maryland.

On Sunday, May 6, 2018, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of St. Matthew Orthodox Church in Columbia, Maryland. Glory to God for His many blessings upon the community of St. Matthew's!  Photos by Victor Lutes.

From April 1-8, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon visited parishes in the Washington DC and surrounding area to celebrate the solemn and festive services of Great & Holy Week and Pascha. Photos by Victor Lutes.

On Friday, January 19, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, led the Orthodox Christian hierarchs, clergy, seminarians and faithful at the March For Life in Washington, DC.

On Friday, January 19, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon led the celebration of Theophany at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC.

On Saturday, September 16th, clergy and faithful from the Archdiocese of Washington gathered under the leadership of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon for their annual assembly, hosted this year at St. Matthew Orthodox Church in Columbia, Maryland.

On Friday, September 15th, a clergy retreat was held at St. Matthew Orthodox Church in Columbia, Maryland. Presenting were Archpriest Timothy Hojnicki and Archpriest Eric Tosi. This Continuing Education Retreat, on MISSION AND SMALL PARISH GROWTH, was cosponsored by the Archdiocesan Mission Board and Continuing Ed program.

On Sunday, May 7, 2017 His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St Andrew Church, Baltimore, Maryland and ordained James Magruder to the Holy Diaconate. Deacon James is a parishioner at St. Andrew’s.  He is a 2003 graduate of St Vladimir's Seminary and a professor of Art History at University of Maryland - Baltimore County. He is married to Matushka Laurel and they have two beautiful children.  May God grant the newly ordained Dn. James and his family, a peaceful life, health, strength, salvation and furtherance in all Godly things and preserve and protect for MANY YEARS!

Annunciation Retreat: "The Life and Legacy of Fr. George Calciu" at Holy Archangels, Annapolis, MD on Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM (EDT)

As we prepare for the Nativity of our Lord, we have the joy of sharing with you this update that Fr. Robert Miclean provided on the Annapolis Campus Ministry.  It is full of good news!

On the first weekend of December 2016, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon was welcomed by Archpriest Dennis Buck and the faithful of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr Church, Hagerstown, MD, for the celebration of the parish’s 35th Anniversary.

On Sunday, September 18, 2016, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon made a pastoral visit to St. Mark Orthodox Church, Bethesda, MD. After the Liturgy service, His Beatitude, blessed the new iconography and posed for a photo with the iconography committee. The iconography committee was formed in 2013 at the parish's annual meeting. Later that year, Dimitry Shkolnik was approved by the parish to carry out the work in the sanctuary. The iconography team ( Dimitry Shkolnik, Alexey Vronskiy, Alexander Chernyy, and Alexander Mchedlishvily) arrived on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, to begin work on the first phase of the sanctuary iconography project. After four weeks of work, the apse itself was completed with the Platytera, Liturgical Hierarchs, and Communion of the Apostles. Phase two began in the fall of 2015 with the icons of the Annunciation, Nativity of our Lord, Theophany, Transfiguration, Pentecost, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascention. Phase two was completed the day before Christmas Eve, December 23, 2015.

On Saturday, September 17, 2016, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the annual Assembly of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC.  The Assembly was held at Saint Luke Orthodox Church in McLean, VA.

On the weekend of August 20-21, 2016, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon was welcomed by Priest John Parsells and the faithful of Christ the Savior Mission, Berlin, MD.  The visit coincided with the burning of the mission’s mortgage—the $318,000.00 balance had been paid in full by an anonymous parishioner, fifteen years before it was due.

The Holy Synod announced its decision to create the Diocese of Washington at the 6th All-American Council in November 1980. 

Sat. March 19th 3:00-5:30pm | At 47 Spa Rd (Next to the Compass Rose Theater)

On January 7, 2016, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated the Nativity of the Lord at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington DC.

Approximately four years of planning and finally after two phases of execution, our proposed iconography project is now complete here at St. Mark. The team of Dmitry Shkolnik, Alexey Vronsky, Alexander Chernyy and Aleksandre Mchedlishvili did a masterful job of weaving influences from the 8th and 12th centuries together and bringing them to life on our walls. The goal was to tell the story of salvation in line and color. Our new icons include: The Communion of the Apostles, the Liturgical Fathers, the Theotokos and Christ in the apse, Annunciation, Nativity of our Lord, Theophany, Transfiguration, Pentecost, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. We invite you all to come and see!

On the weekend of December 19-20, 2015, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon visited Saint Catherine Church, Hagerstown, MD, a parish of the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of Washington. Metropolitan Tikhon was welcomed by Archpriest Dennis Buck, Rector.  During his visit, Metropolitan Tikhon placed a new antimension on the altar table and blessed recent renovations made to the altar walls.

St. Matthew Orthodox Church in Columbia, MD held a retreat with Archimandrite Sergius, Abbot of St. Tikhon’s Monastery on Saturday, November 14th.

On Saturday, November 14, 2015, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the annual Assembly of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC.  The Assembly was held at Saint Nicholas Cathedral.  The day opened with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, after which plenary sessions were held in the cathedral.  In addition to Metropolitan Tikhon’s opening address, reports were heard from Priest John Vitko, Archdiocesan Chancellor, and Treasurer Michael Hydock.  The day closed with the celebration of Vigil.

On Saturday, November 14, 2015, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon visited the French Embassy, Washington, DC to pay respect to those who lost their lives in the multiple terrorist attacks on Paris, France one day earlier.

On Friday, November 13th, a clergy retreat was held at St. Nicholas Cathedral by Fr. Robert Holet on "The First and Finest: Orthodox Christian Stewardship as Sacred Offering".

On Saturday, October 24, 2015, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and His Eminence, Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey joined Archpriest Theodore Boback and the faithful of Saint Andrew Church, Baltimore, MD for the celebration of the parish’s 75th Anniversary.

Two new resources that will aid in the study of the lives of North America’s saints are now available—a series of “life icons” and a video-lecture on the martyred Saint Juvenaly of Alaska.

On Saturday, September 19th, a presentation on the subject of missions was offered by Archpriest Mark Koczak and Popadija Katherine Vitko from the Archdiocese of Washington's Mission Board at Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Berlin, MD. Sincere appreciation is extended to the presenters both for making the long trip out to Christ the Savior as well as the informative and inspiring material they shared.

Five young adults representing the Orthodox Church in America were among the forty-plus participants from around the world who attended the international Orthodox youth festival, “Attaining Conciliarity,” at the Monastery of the Annunciation’s Academy, Suprasl, Poland, during the last week of August 2015.  They also attended services for the Great Feast of the Dormition at the Monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Zweirki and celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the Orthodox Youth Fellowship of Poland, presided over by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and His Eminence, Archbishop Jacob of Bialystok.

From April 29-May 6 2015 Fr. Robert Miclean, Rector of Holy Archangels Orthodox Mission (OCA) in Annapolis, Maryland, served as the first OCMC Orthodox priest in the Republic of Moldova, teaching on the subjects of the Sacrament of Marriage and educating children in the Orthodox Faith, as well as speaking to youth at three high schools across Moldova.

Metropolitan Tikhon made an archpastoral visit to the Holy Trinity Church at their new location in Ashburn, Virginia on their patronal feast day. His Beatitude was warmly welcomed by Fr. Paul Harrilchak and parishioners of the Holy Trinity. After the Divine liturgy a festal meal was served kindly prepared by the members of the parish.

This year’s Lenten Retreat at Holy Archangels will be led by His Beatitude Metropolitan TIKHON and is entitled, “The Ascetic Disciplines of the Orthodox Life: Baptizing the Culture in an Age of Disbelief.”  This retreat with His Beatitude promises to be a tremendous opportunity for edifying growth.  Please Register Now through the Evenbrite service so we can plan the numbers accordingly.  Cost is $25 per person, $15 each additional.  Student price is $10. Clergy and wives, Children under 10 are free. Your ticket price includes admission to the retreat as well as a crab cake luncheon. Please see the detail below as well as a flyer for distribution.

On Sunday, March 8th, clergy and faithful from the Archdiocese of Washington joined His Grace Bishop Anthony of Toledo for a Pan-Orthodox celebration of the Triumph of Orthodoxy at Ss. Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Patomac, Maryland.

Christ is in our midst! Blessings of the Feast of Theophany (And for our Old Calendar brothers and sisters, Christ is born!)! Fifteen people braved the snow and difficult travel conditions in Annapolis to participate in the Divine Liturgy and partake of the Great Feast of Theophany Tuesday at Holy Archangels Orthodox Mission, including the Great Blessing of the Waters at the City Dock at the Mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. We were even joined by some non-Orthodox passers by who saw us praying and singing and joined in.

The 2014 Annual Assembly of the Archdiocese of Washington took place on Saturday, November 15, at St. Mark Orthodox Church in Bethesda, Maryland. The reports together with the draft minutes will be posted in the near future. In the meantime, please enjoy photos taken during the assembly by Fr. Gregory Safchuk and Victor Lutes.

On Saturday, October 25th, Holy Archangels Orthodox Church, a mission of the OCA in Annapolis, MD, participated in the 2014 Centerville Day in Centerville, MD on the Eastern Shore. The mission had a tent staffed with Fr. Robert and family and parishioners as well as icons on prominent display together with a wide variety of literature on Orthodoxy. Seldom was there not someone at the tent talking and asking questions. The mission was very encouraged by the interest and openness that they experienced at the event and had many people sign up for our mailing list. The mission expresses their thanks to the many parishioners who gave their time and energy to support the spreading the Gospel in our area. May God grow and nurture the seeds that were planted on this Centreville Day 2014.

On Saturday, October 11th, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon met with the diocesan council of the Archdiocese of Washington. The meeting was held in preparation for the 2014 Archdiocesan Assembly which will be held on Saturday, November 15th, at St. Mark Orthodox Church in Bethesday, MD.  Additional information for the assembly may be found here.

Matushka Doris “Daria” Mason, 85, wife of Archpriest John Mason, fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday, October 11, 2014.  A resident of Hagerstown, MD, she attended Saint Catherine Church.

On Saturday, September 6th, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon let a spiritual retreat entitled, "The Treasures of Ancient Christianity", at Christ the Savior Mission in Berlin, MD. The event doubled as the annual Archdiocese Day as faithful clergy and laity journeyed to the shore to share in worship, fellowship, and education. The Synodal Youth Choir performed a concert with hymns from the ancient Liturgy of the Church as well as sang the responses during the divine services. In addition to the lecture, concert, question/answer session, and divine services, there was a barbeque and lamb roast, swimming, and activities for children. Glory to God and many thanks to all!

On Sunday, July 27th, 2014, St Luke Orthodox Church in McLean held a celebration to mark Fr. John Vitko and Popadija Kitty's 5th anniversary at the parish.  One of the many highlights of the day, was this "procession"  at the end of the Liturgy of 12 or so of the young children in the parish, each bearing two roses -- one for Fr. John and one for Popadija Kitty. This video was 'shot' by their 11 year old granddaughter, Tatiana, on her cell phone:

Watch Video >

On the Sunday of the Cross, March 23rd, the Christ the Savior Mission in Berlin, MD, welcomed Archpriest Mark Koczak, chairman of the Missions Board for the Archdiocese of Washington. Some 93 people gathered to worship the Lord and venerate His precious and life-creating Cross, singing the hymn: "Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy resurrection we praise and glorify!" This was Fr. Mark's fourth visit to the Mission and his first on a Sunday. After leading the faithful in worship and delivering the homily, Fr. Mark spoke with members of the Mission during the fellowship hour. Serving with Fr. Mark were Protopresbyter Daniel Hubiak, founder of the Mission, and Priest John Parsells, the current rector.

The Archdiocesan Benefactor Fund committee held its initial meeting via conference call on Saturday, March 22nd. At this meeting, the committee agreed that the initial focus will be on the first three items identified in the proposal adopted at the assembly meeting, which are 1) to generate awareness of benefactor fund; 2) to encourage contribution to the benefactor fund; and 3) provide guidance for identifying and enrolling donors for the fund.  In addition, the committee agreed to work on renaming this effort more appropriately so as not to focus solely on fundraising and monetary contributions, but rather to promote its purpose in enabling the many charitable activities and ministries that are desired to be performed through our Archdiocese.

The 2013 Annual Assembly of the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. was held at St. Matthew Orthodox Church in Columbia MD. We are grateful to Fr. Constantine White, Dn. Sergius Miller and the parishioners of St. Matthew for their wonderful hospitality – and great food ;) -- in hosting the Assembly and the Clergy Retreat on the preceding day.  The day was made even more special since this was the Feast of St. Matthew, the patronal feast day of the parish.

On Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. held its first clergy retreat at St. Matthew Orthodox Church in Columbia, MD.  We were delighted by the turn out – some 20 priest and deacons, nearly all of our clergy, were able to attend.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon visited St. Luke Orthodox Church in McLean, VA on Sunday, Oct. 27 to join them in the celebration of their patronal feast day.  After presiding over the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, he conducted his first ever Slava service  -- a molieben used by those of Serbian heritage in honor of their patron saints.  As part of the Slava, bread (kolach) and wheat (zhito) are blessed and the children participate in slowly rotating the kolach as the Song of Isaiah is sung.  This was followed by a banquet involving some 100 people and a fine selection of traditional Serbian foods, during which time His Beatitude engaged in informal conversations with a number of parishioners.

On Saturday evening, April 4, 2013, the community of Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC gathered to celebrate a Paschal Service of the Great Feast of our Lord’s Resurrection presided by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, celebrated services for Holy Week at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated Lenten Vespers at St. Andrew's Church in Baltimore, MD April 21, 2013

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, visited Saint Matthew Church, Columbia, MD April 20-21, 2013.

On Saturday evening, March 23, 2013, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon came to visit All Saints of North America Mission, Alexandria, VA.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, delivered the homily at the celebration of Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers at Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church on Sunday evening, March 24, 2013

On Sunday morning, March 17th, 2013, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC on the occasion of Forgiveness Sunday and the begining of Great Lent.

Holy Archangels Mission, Annapolis, MD welcomed His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, for his first archpastoral visit February 23-24, 2013. The growing community received a Church Planting Grant for 2013 from the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Evangelization.

On Sunday, February 3rd, 2013 Timothy Skuby, a parishioner of St. Catherine Orthodox Church in Hagerstown, MD and faithful servant of Christ, was ordained to the Subdeaconate and Deaconate by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.

On Sunday morning, January 20th, Fr. Theodore Boback together with the faithful of St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Baltimore, MD welcomed His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon who came to visit the parish.

On January 13th, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church in Reston, Virginia.

The Enthronement of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America will be celebrated at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC, on the weekend of January 26-27, 2013.

On Sunday evening, January 6th, the community of Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Washington D.C. gathered to celebrate a Great Compline and Matins of the Great Feast of our Lord's Nativity presided by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.

This Sunday, January 6th the community of Saint Mark Orthodox Church gathered to celebrate the Theophany of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

On Sunday morning, December 30th, Fr. John Parsells together with the faithful of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Mission in Berlin, MD welcomed His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon who came to visit the parish. The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was also concelebrated by Fr. David Straut and Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak.

Feast of the Nativity of our Lord at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Washington D.C.

Eve of the Nativity of Christ at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Washington D.C.

On Saturday morning, December 8, 2012, the annual Assembly of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC was held at Saint Luke Church, McLean, VA.

On July 16, 2012, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America issued the following statement in regard to the resignation of Metropolitan Jonah. The complete text can be found in PDF format here.

On Monday, July 9, 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops met via conference call to further discuss His Beatitude’s resignation, as reported earlier on the web site of the Orthodox Church in America. The hierarchs issued the following statement at the conclusion of their meeting.

On November 8, the Feast of St Michael and All the Archangels, the Annapolis Mission will officially be given the name of St Michael and All the Archangels  This will be marked by His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah, Fr. Robert, and the faithful of the mission serving Great Vespers there on Nov 7 and Divine Liturgy on Nov 8.  You are invited to come and celebrate this wonderful occasion if you can.

On July 28, 2011, His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah issued an Archpastoral Letter Regarding Marriage to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Washington.

The Presbytera Athena Kalpaxis Memorial Fund awards aid to students at the undergraduate and graduate level who are in need of financial assistance.  To qualify, a student must be a baptized Orthodox Christian and a participating communicant of an Orthodox Church in the state of Maryland.  Selection will be based upon academic record, church service, stated purpose for pursuing higher education and financial need. Awards levels vary based on need.  Application packets are available from Mat. Diane Pelesh at dpelesh@hcpss.org  or by writing to the Presbytera Athena Kalpaxis Memorial Education Fund, c/o PO Box 18294, Baltimore, MD 21227.  There is no deadline.

Joining the St Nicholas Cathedral clergy and faithful for the retreat were Archpriest Gregory Safchuk, Archdiocesan Chancellor and Rector of St Mark's Orthodox Church in Bethesda, MD; Archpriest Michael Koblosh of All Saints of North America Mission in Alexandria, VA; and Priest David Arnold of St Cyprian of Carthage Mission in Richmond, VA. 

During the first week of Great Lent, the Great Canon of Repentance of St Andrew of Crete was sung by His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH and by the clergy and laity of the Primatial Cathedral of St Nicholas in Washington, DC.

Christ the Savior Orthodox Mission in Dagsboro, DE will celebrate its 10th Anniversary on the weekend of January 1-2, 2011 with a visit by His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH. Following the celebration of Great Vespers on Saturday, January 1, His Beatitude will lead a discussion of spiritual matters. His Beatitude will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 2. A festal luncheon in honor of His Beatitude's visit and the mission's anniversary will follow. More information on His Beatitude's visit may be found here on Christ the Savior's website: 

The Elsie Skvir Ganister Foundation Fund provides financial assistance for organizations and parishes with innovative approaches to advancing the mission of Orthodoxy in the United States. June 30 is the annual deadline for submitting grant applications, and recipients are announced in the fall of each year.

"Palm Sunday is a feast of rejoicing, a feast of anticipation, and yet, a bitter time when we know the end of the story that is unfolding. Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead, and the entire community of Jerusalem is abuzz with the miracle. They want to see Lazarus; but especially they want to see Jesus, to hear his words, to touch him, to receive his blessing, to see another miracle, to maybe be healed by Him. They realize that He is the Messiah, the King who was to come, to establish the Kingdom. They put all their earthly hopes in Jesus, the Son of David, and shout “Hosanna” as they line the streets and crowd around Him as they lead Him into the Temple, “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

"In the midst of the chaos, the scribes and the Pharisees, the chief priests and their minions, plot against Jesus and Lazarus, watching their power and control slip from their fingers. “The whole world has gone after Him” they complain. The seeds of jealousy and resentment, envy and anger, began to blossom into betrayal. They saw their world slipping away, their control and their power evaporating, and their positions and agendas threatened. They had no choice but murder.

"The people, the simple people of the Hebrews, saw the miracle of the raising of Lazarus and believed. Yet their belief was not really faith, but rather, a hope that Jesus would fulfill their expectations. It was an earthly hope, that Jesus would be the political ruler who would restore the Kingdom of David, banish the Roman occupiers, and free them from oppression. It was an earthly hope, to see a miracle, to have a miracle happen to them, to be healed. It was a hope for earthly glory, wealth, power and prosperity for their nation, and a release from the sufferings of this life. None of this was bad; but it was limited. It was not the kind of king Jesus is, nor the Kingdom He would inaugurate. He did not come to give simple bread, but the Bread of Heaven. He did not come to give political freedom, but freedom from the power of sin and the devil. He did not come to raise the dead to temporal earthly life only to die again, but to destroy death and to bring eternal life. The people had no conception of the divine and heavenly dimension; only their own self-centered agenda. How quickly they went from shouting “Hosanna,” to “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

"The chief priests and the Pharisees understood clearly what Jesus meant: He threatened their entire power structure and control over the people. Religion had become an end in itself, a means for them to propagate their own selfish agendas, for the sake of their own personal power and enrichment. Truly Jesus called them “whitened sepulchers,” beautiful on the outside, but full of death and corruption. The religious leaders of the Jews lacked faith. They were blinded by their own lust for power, their legalism, their hypocrisy. Having the outer form of piety, all dressed up, they were functionally atheists, in denial of God, seeking only themselves.

"They too wanted a worldly messiah, who would banish the Romans and install them in positions of authority, who would do their will. Jesus was not “their” man, whom they could control. And they feared that He and his uprising would provoke the Romans, to take away their power. 

"Even the apostles themselves did not understand, only that Jesus was going to get into trouble. They also lacked real faith, the conscious awareness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter had confessed that faith, but how shallow it was. Otherwise, how could they have all betrayed him? Martha’s sister, Mary, knew, she saw, she had faith. Yet, the sweet fragrance of the perfume, which Mary had used to anoint Jesus’ feet, must have been a stench to Judas, who lamented the money thus wasted that he could have stolen. Even the apostles wanted Jesus on their own terms, to fulfill their expectations, to conform to their desires. And when He did not, they left him alone.

"How often is our own faith conditional, how often do we assent to belief in God because we think we can get something out of it? And how often do we waver when our expectations are not met, when our will is not done, or desire fulfilled? How often do we abandon God when something hard or bitter happens, and we feel He has let us down? How often do we betray God, deny Him, refuse to believe in Him, when something else will fulfill our desires, or gratify our senses? Or on a more earthly level, how often do we betray another, when he or she does not satisfy our expectations? Much less, if he threatens our comfortable little world that we have created for ourselves?

"Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. He knew, as a man, that God would hear Him, and do as He prayed. He stood before the tomb of his friend, and wept; He knew that death was not the will of God for man, but life. And so He called out, “Lazarus, come forth.” And he did, restored to life. We are called to that same kind of faith as Jesus. He gives us that faith, if we can accept it. (“And you will do miracles even greater than I,” He said.) Look at where it got Him: a moment of earthly glory fading to rejection, betrayal, torture and death on the cross. But He remained faithful to God, despite it all; obedient even to the point of death. This kind of faith is unconditional, a self-abandonment to God and His Will, no matter what. It is a faith that overcomes disappointment and betrayal, a faith that overcomes despair, and a living faith that overcomes death itself. It is true faith, living communion with the Living God.

"Lent has brought us to this moment of judgment. It has been the time to come to clearly see the selfish agendas and sins which keep us entrapped in a conditional belief. It helps us clearly realize our hypocrisy: that having the form of religion, we lack real faith. Will we one day shout “Hosanna,” and the next, “crucify him!” Or will we like Mary and the women, or John at the foot of the cross, strive for that living faith which overcomes death, and enables us to shout “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord” no matter what comes. Amen."

Homily delivered by His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH at the Primatial Cathedral of St Nicholas in Washington, DC, during the Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday, 17, 2011.

Dearly Beloved in the Lord:

The beginning of another Lenten season is upon us, and with it comes the opportunity for us to cast aside those things which have distanced us from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Like a wise mother, the Church provides this period of time as a means for us to prepare for receiving the joy of Pascha and Christ’s holy resurrection.

This same joy and blessing was granted to us at our baptism, when the following prayer was read:

"Grant that he (she) who is baptized therein may be transformed; that he may put away from himself the old man, which is corrupt through the lusts of the flesh, and that he may, in like manner, be a partaker of Your Resurrection; and having preserved the gift of Your Holy Spirit, and increased the measure of grace committed to him, he may receive the prize of his high calling, and be numbered with the firstborn whose names are written in heaven, in You, our God and Lord, Jesus Christ."

Our baptism in the waters of regeneration enabled us to participate in Christ’s death and resurrection. Therefore, it is appropriate for us to use the upcoming season of Great Lent to return to those baptismal waters. For this transformation to take place, we must first have a desire for a change of heart. Do we want to turn aside from the passions of our flesh? Carnal thoughts or deeds, idle chatter, gossip, lying, selfish acts, greed, and gluttony are all things which separate us from Christ. Isn’t it time to stop these destructive habits? Simply put, we know our passions stand in our way of entering into the heavenly kingdom. Now is the time to cast them into oblivion. Instead of tearing each other down, let us build each other up, as the Gospel commands. Instead of slander and accusation, judgment and condemnation, let us encourage and love our neighbors.

If we truly desire to return to God, then let us do so in a spirit of humility. Let God transform our minds and hearts through true repentance, the fruit of that humility. We live in a society which encourages us to have an opinion or comment worthy of posting or tweeting about everyone and everything, but as Orthodox Christians it is time for us to stop thinking we have all of the answers. Let us turn off the rhetoric and excuses while rejecting our arrogance and pride. Denial of self is not easy. Yet we can echo the example of our Savior, who silently, and with meekness and humility approached the cross. When we take up our cross and follow Him, He will make our burden light.

When we have reacquired a sense of humility, it is possible to more clearly recognize our sins and repent of them. Admission of our sins through repentance will not only help us as individuals, but also as communities of Orthodox Christian throughout North America. The effects of a broken and contrite heart can have a great impact on every relationship in our lives. True repentance replaces discord with harmony, and frustration with love. Individually and collectively, our lives should and need to reflect the love found in Jesus Christ.

Great Lent is an excellent time for us to rediscover the importance of loving one’s neighbors. If, as Orthodox Christians we are the Body of Christ, then we have a responsibility to ask forgiveness for our failings, while banishing our grudges and egos. It means sharing the love of Christ with those in need, whether they are in our parishes or on the street. Putting an extra ten dollars in the basket is an excellent start. Or try to actually tithe your income (10%) to the Church during Lent. Taking it one step further to make a connection with someone by providing them with a meal or charity can make Christ present in their lives and so fulfill the law of God.

The joy and radiant light of Pascha will quickly be here, and it is imperative that we make use of the time available for us during Great Lent to work on our spiritual health. It is time for us to cast off the works of darkness, as the Apostle Paul says in his epistle to the Romans. The services, prayers, fasting, and acts of charity we do during Lent are merely tools to help us return to God. Be careful, my beloved ones, that these tools do not become stumbling blocks for us, or that we use them to cause others to sin.

I believe it is possible for each of us to turn from our sins and draw closer to our God the Father by redirecting our lives through Christ. What a joy it will be if each of us begins taking those first steps in love on the narrow path leading back to God. Our collective journey through Great Lent will bring us closer together as a community of love, and as the baptismal prayer says, may we become partakers of the Resurrection. Let us keep a sober mind to properly prepare for that moment on Pascha when we boldly and confidently may proclaim: Christ is Risen!

In the many ways while serving as your archpastor, if I have failed or wronged you, I humbly ask for your forgiveness. May the Lord forgive us all!

With my prayers for a holy season of Great Lent,

With love in Christ,

+ Jonah
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada

On Forgiveness Sunday, March 6, 2011, His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH delivered the following homily:

On November 4, 2015, the Archdiocese of Washington was pleased to launch its newly redesigned website. Should you have any questions about the new website, please just let us know.