WHAT IS ORTHODOXY?
"Orthodoxy is what Christ taught, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers kept."
We are a small mission in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the USA. We are part of the Eastern Orthodox Church, more specifically, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR-MP). For us Americans, this means we have inherited the Apostolic Faith through the Slavic missionaries whether it be in Alaska with Saint Herman and Jacob, or on the coast lines shepherded by St John (Maximovitch) of San Francisco. We have a very rich heritage of Orthodoxy in America, and we hope to show everyone Christ and the love of God Who offers Himself up for all of us no matter our ethnicity, nationality, age, or gender. Christ shall be all in all. Come worship our risen Lord with us, and join Christ's Church.
WHO ARE WE?
How five women started our local Church
In 1995, a small group started to meet and have services in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Some services were held in restaurants, some in basements, until finally a building was bought in 1996.
They prayed reader services for many years and eventually had their first priest Father Steven here. When he left, they resumed reader services with visiting clergy serving throughout this period when possible.
In December of 2005, Hieromonk John (Berzins) was assigned here and served here until he was elevated to Bishop of Caracas and also bishop of the Old Rite parishes in ROCOR in 2008. Eis polla, eti Dhespota!
From October 2009 till May 2012, Archpriest Gregory Joyce, the Dean of MI parishes, was assigned here as rector and would come serve as often as he could. His primary assignment was, and is, St. Vladimir's in Dexter, MI.
In May 2012, Hieromonk Alexander (Reichert) was assigned here to start the brotherhood of Saint John of the Ladder. In 2017, we officially went from an Orthodox Mission to a Monastery. He served as Rector here until March 2019.
From March 2019 till that October, various priests came to help celebrate the services.
In October 2019, the attached married deacon Benjamin Naasko was ordained to the priesthood. The sole monk living on the premises was then ordained a hierodeacon to help celebrate the services.
Since January of 2023, no monastics have resided here, but we continue to grow with more converts and faithful - nowadays having about 20-30 on an average Sunday.
May God help us to continue to bring the fullness of His Gospel to the Keweenaw and to grow His Church!
Glory to God in all things!