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
Nativity of St. John the Baptist
While we celebrate the lives of most of the saints on the day of their deaths, or rather on the day that they entered into the life to come, we also celebrate their birthdays in the church calendar: the birthday of Our Lord (on December 25th), of His blessed Mother (on September 8th), and of St. John the Baptist (today, June 24th). … More...
The Lives of the Saints
St. Giles, Abbot
Feast Day ~ September 1 There are several attributes which are common to many of the saints of the Church, among them a desire for solitude in order to meditate and pray away from the distractions of the world; a gentle nature which is recognized by animals who are tame in the presence of the saint; and the miraculous effectiveness of the … More...
Latest News
July – August Newsletter
As the summer months of July and August begin, with many traveling far and wide for vacations and visits to family (and camp at Antiochian Village), please remember to plan your trips to include a visit to an Orthodox Church for Sunday services. Fr. Nicholas can recommend Antiochian parishes; and remember to contact … More...
The Good News of Orthodoxy
A Reading from a homily by St. Caesarius of Arles
In the lesson which was read to us, dearly beloved, we heard about the time when the people were destroyed in the desert by serpents or basilisks, because of the pride of the Jews and their murmuring against the Lord. [Numbers 21:9] Moreover, the Lord commanded Moses to make a brazen serpent and hang it on a tress, so that anyone who had been … More...
From a Sermon by St. Ambrose of Milan
When the angel revealed his message to the Virgin Mary he gave her a sign to win her trust. He told her of the motherhood of an old and barren woman to show that God is able to do all that he wills. When she hears this Mary sets out for the hill country. She does not disbelieve God’s word; she feels no uncertainty over the message or doubt … More...