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
The Wedding at Cana
A Sermon for the Third Sunday after Epiphany -- Today, as we continue in the season of Epiphany, we are presented with the story of Jesus' first miracle. On the surface it is a very nice story about a wedding, and avoiding a social faux pas — running out of wine in the midst of a big party. But, in typical fashion for St. John … More...
The Lives of the Saints
St. Chad of Litchfield
(Feast Day ~ March 2) During the presidential election of 2004 we heard much about “chads”. After the reporters had exhausted their supply of words about such things as “dimpled chads” and “hanging chads”, they moved on to enlighten us about the country Chad and then to teach Americans - many for the first time - about St. Chad, who was bishop … More...
Latest News
March Newsletter
We will celebrate the feast day of our patron saint - St. Gregory the Great, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor - on the Eve, Monday, March 11, with Vespers at 6:30 pm, Mass at 7, followed by a pot-luck supper. St. Gregory was pope (patriarch) of Rome with episcopal oversight for the Christians from the far north of England … More...
The Good News of Orthodoxy
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...