Patronal Feast: St. John the Theologian Orthodox Mission
In commemoration of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian on May 8, the parishioners of St. John the Theologian Orthodox Mission in Fairfax Station, Virginia, were blessed to have His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, in attendance for Great Vespers and presiding at the Divine Liturgy on May 9 and 10, respectively. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were Acting Rector and Priest Nicholas Roth, Deacon Matthew Prentice, and altar boys Gavin Middleton, Jack McKernan, and Eddie and Dylan Roth. The choir was led Saturday by John Bilyeu and Sunday by Matushka Ann Prentice, with the epistle reading provided by Michael Karas.
Together with His Beatitude, following Divine Liturgy, the community sang “God grant you many years” to all mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and spiritual mothers in honor of Mother’s Day, and held a patronal celebration to honor our patron saint with a catered luncheon provided by our Greek Orthodox friends at Spartans Family Restaurant. Special thanks to the mission’s social committee, Tammy Karas and Lauren Herman, and numerous other donors who provided the side dishes, desserts, and organized games for the children. The mission also was blessed on Sunday by the presence and prayers of two of its most beloved founders, Archpriest Joseph and Matushka Charlotte Woodill, before their pending move to South Canaan, Pennsylvania, to continue their work at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.
St. John the Theologian Orthodox Mission (Station) was founded in October 2018. Presently, St. John the Theologian Orthodox Mission (www.stjohnfairfax.org) holds services in the historical chapel located at 5612 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039, in space graciously leased to the mission by St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church. During the Civil War, following the Second Battle of Manassas (August 1862), Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, used the newly built St. Mary of Sorrows Church as a field hospital and supply depot during the Civil War, where she provided aid to thousands of wounded soldiers.
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