ST. JOSEPH OF OPTINA

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ABROAD

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Our Russian Orthodox Community has gone a long way since we first started in 1989. I remember clearly the earliest Divine Services following Matushka Zenobia's and my becoming Orthodox. She and I prayed together on the sofa in our living room in the 3-storied townhouse we were living in at the time. We were shortly joined by our daughters, Minka, Renee, Danielle and Gabrielle and our granddaughter Bayley. Within months our future son-in-law, Subdeacon Thomas (boB) Taylor, Fr. Onouphry, Matushka Anna and Nora Keith joined our little fellowship. Matushka Zenobia's mother was also with us and the 12 of us began the journey that has led us to this very moment.

From 1989 to 1992 we offered Reader Services. Our witness grew and new membership joined with us. We became St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Church. I was ordained Deacon in January 1992 and Fr. Onopuphry was ordained Subdeacon. We outgrew our living room and moved to a storefront in Gammon Square (in a former Oriental Fish Market) where we remained for the next 5 years. The core membership was substantiated during our Gammon Square years, many of whom are still with us today. In September of 1992 I was ordained Priest. In 1994 our Mission was received into the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad by Vladyka Hilarion in the presence of Vladyka Metropolitan Vitaly, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. Later in the year Fr. Onouphry was ordained Deacon. A year or so later we moved the Church to the 400 square foot garage at the rectory where it remained until this past Fall, 2003.

During the mid-90's we assisted several Missions into formation. All Saints of North America Russian Orthodox Church in Middlebrook, Virginia was birthed by our efforts resulting in the ordination of Fr. John Moses to the Priesthood. We also established Akathist Chapel Russian Orthodox Church in Clearbrook, Virginia. Fr. Onouphry, Matushka Anna, Matushka Zenobia and I became "circuit riding" missionaries serving all three missions for several years.

From 1995 through 2000, Matushka Zenobia and I took on other duties in the Southern Deanery. We both served at St. Seraphim Russian Orthodox Camp in Pennsylvania assisting Fr. Alexis Duncan, the Camp Founder and Director. Fr. Alexis was appointed Sub-Dean for the English missions in the Southern Deanery and I was appointed to assist him. Together Fr. Alexis and I wrote the "Clergy Handbook" for the Southern Deanery.

St. Ignatius and All Saints Churches sponsored the Nativity Fast Clergy Retreat and Conference for the Southern Deanery in 1999. Also during that year St. Ignatius hosted the Virginia Missions Conference.

St. Ignatius ROC was an active participant in all of the Southern Missions Conferences and Clergy Conferences from 1995 to 2000.

Through an unfortunate turn of events the year 2000 brought much disruption in the life of the Church Abroad ultimately resulting in a schism in the Church. I made the best decision I could at the time, however faulty it may have been, and left the Church Abroad for 2 years. St. Ignatius sojourned into the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA. Although we were warmly received and given wonderful loving care, it was obvious to us that we were not where we needed to be.

During that 2 years a group of former members of St. Ignatius, who chose not to leave, formed a mission effort receiving the name St. Joseph of Optina Russian Orthodox Mission. Fr. Onouphry Keith was assigned to serve this mission along with several other small missions in Virginia and Tennessee. Through the efforts of Kyrill Johnson a temple structure was begun on his property in Chesapeake near Great Bridge.

By the grace and mercy of God, the brotherly help of Fr. Alexis Duncan and Fr. Onouphry Keith, Vladyka Gabriel received me back into the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad following a necessary time of suspension in Atlanta during the 2003 Southern Missions Conference and Clergy Conference. I was privileged to assist in the development of and co-sign the Resolution of the Southern Deanery Clergy concerning our possible union with the Moscow Patriarchate in the future.

The two groups, St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Joseph of Optina, agreed to unite and form one parish with the blessing of Vladyka Gabriel. We are now St. Joseph of Optina Russian Orthodox Church. Together, as one, we will, with the help of Almighty God, build the Temple of St. Joseph of Optina and provide a permanent home for the witness of the Russian Orthodox faith for the Tidewater/Hampton Roads area of Southeastern Virginia, serving all of the cities in a 50+ mile radius.

This is an exciting time for our Orthodox community. We are the only traditional Orthodox witness in Southeastern Virginia. We have the opportunity to serve the Russian emigre population as well as the many converts who are longing for true Orthodoxy in their lives.

Through faithful service to the Church and attendance at our Divine Services I believe God's grace will pour out on us and that we will become a full parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in the near future.

I greet you with encouragement and zeal for the Holy Orthodox faith.

Love in Christ and through the Intercessions of St. Joseph of Optina and St. Ignatius of Antioch, I am sincerely your servant in the priesthood,

Fr. Seraphim+