Welcome!
We are a Western Rite Orthodox church located in Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC. As a congregation of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, we are part of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East (“…the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” Acts 11:26). While we share the faith of all Orthodox Christians around the world, as a Western Rite congregation we are blessed by our bishops to use the ancient forms of Western worship. Most of us are converts from many different backgrounds who have come to Orthodoxy in search of authentic Christianity and a place where we may grow in knowledge and love of God. In the Orthodox Church we have found the “pearl of great price” and we rejoice to share what we have discovered. We hope that you will explore our web site and join us in worship.
Sermons by Fr. Nicholas Alford
Easter Sunday: Pascha
Today, with great joy, we gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Our Lenten fasting has ended and we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, even as the earth pours out its beauty in the flowers of spring. But what does it really mean to celebrate the resurrection today? What meaning can this feast have for us in this world we … More...
The Lives of the Saints
St. Thomas, the Fool-For-Christ
Feast Day ~ April 24 The Church honors saints who fall into many different categories - first the martyrs, who were killed for being Christians; then Popes, Bishops, Priests, and monastics who were spiritual leaders for the faithful; and many others, including devout rulers. The most unusual category is that of fool-for-Christ, one who gives the … More...
Latest News
April Newsletter
The most holy week of the year for Christians is that week in which we commemorate the events of our Lord’s earthly life from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to his glorious Resurrection on the morning of Pascha. The services for this week include unique ceremonies which help call to mind these … More...
The Good News of Orthodoxy
From a Sermon by the Venerable St. Bede
The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior has consecrated the vigil of this most sacred night for us, dearly beloved, as we have heard from the Gospel reading. Rightly do we celebrate this night with watching and hymns, out of love for Him who, out of love for us, willed to spend it in the sleep of death and to be raised from … More...
From a Sermon by St. Melito of Sardis
There was much proclaimed by the prophets about the mystery of the Passover: that mystery is Christ, and to him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. For the sake of suffering humanity he came down from heaven to earth, clothed himself in that humanity in the Virgin's womb, and was born a man. Having then a body capable of suffering, he took the … More...