Services will not be held this weekend at St. Herman's. Normal Service schedule is planned to resume on Saturday, February 7th.

Services will not be held this weekend at St. Herman's. Normal Service schedule is planned to resume on Saturday, January 30th.

With Metropolitan Jonah’s blessing, Mat. Joanna has begun the hand-written feast day icons for St. Herman Orthodox Church. They will be prayerfully written following the canons of the church and with the guidance of her instructor, Fr. Igumen Mefodii.

The parish is asking for donations to sponsor either an entire icon or to make a partial donation. The goal is to raise $3000 per icon. Two-thirds of the donation will be given to the church’s building fund.

The matching icons will be 13”’x 17”, with 23k gold backgrounds, halos and details where needed. The high-quality boards will be recessed and braced on the back to prevent warping.

The first three icons will be: "The Nativity of the Theotokos", "The Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple", and the "Dormition of the Theotokos". We still need sponsors for the Icon of the Nativity of the Theotokos.

Indicate on your donation that it is for the icon of your choice.

This long-term project is for the beauty of our church, according to the gift of God’s Grace and to His Glory.

“From this day, from this hour, from this minute, let us strive to love God above all, and fulfill His holy will.”

- ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Lord bless you!

At St Herman’s, we will continue to do the services.  However, we will have to limit the attendance at the service itself to ten people. The priest/bishop, deacon and reader, plus hopefully a singer or two, will serve the Liturgy with a couple of people present.

Those who wish to receive the Holy Mysteries are asked to come about the time of communion and must sign up in advance so that we do not violate the Governor of Virginia’s mandate that assemblies cannot be larger than ten people. We had someone call the police on us on Wednesday, but the officer understood that we are following the limits.  

You may sign up at this link (https://sugeni.us/ctvM ) to attend services or just receive communion.

7 People may attend the service and we can have 3 groups of eight that will come into the church hall at the appointed times (in the sign up). If you arrive before your timeslot, you must remain in your car until the reader calls your group into the hall.

For services:

Presanctified Liturgies begin at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday Vespers begins at 6:00 p.m.

Sunday Matins and Liturgy begins at 8:45 a.m.

For communion only:

For evening Liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts, the times to sign up for will be 7:20, 7:25 and 7:30 PM.

For Sunday Divine Liturgy, the times will be 11:10, 11:15, and 11:20. 

These times may be adjusted slightly in subsequent weeks as we adjust to this new paradigm.

At the appointed time, the Reader will come out and read Typica for the first group in the hall, and for each subsequent group after them.  Then each group will enter the temple, recite the prayers before Communion, and receive the Holy Mysteries. We need you to leave the temple after communion and zapivka.

While we are urging families with small children not to bring the whole crew to the service—and thereby exclude adults from participating—we encourage you to bring the kids to receive the Holy Mysteries before the services on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, or at the end of Liturgy using the signup sheet.

As a reminder, we bless those who wish pray at home, and have provided the Typica text.  We will send out the Vespers text as well for Wednesday and Friday nights. Additionally, St. John’s Cathedral is broadcasting their services on YouTube and Holy Cross Monastery is broadcasting their services on Facebook.  St John’s Cathedral has the services in both English and Slavonic; Holy Cross is all in English, and it is the full daily cycle. 

Again, I hate to have to do this, but we are in extraordinary times.  We are very sorry not to be able to open the Liturgy to all; however, all who wish to commune are able. 

For those high risk people who are remaining at home and for whom it is unwise to come out, Communion can be brought to you.  Please let us know and we will make an arrangement.  Also, you may come and commune at 5pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, before the services.

Please continue to pray for all those who are suffering from this horrific virus, all those ministering to them—the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals—and all who are in fear, grief or anxiety over this. 

With love in Christ,

+Metropolitan Jonah

Master Iconographer, and Instructor for the Prosopon School of Iconology, Fr. Igumen Mefodii, from the Skete of St. Maximos the Confessor in Palmyra, VA, will return to lead our annual 6-day retreat from August 3-8, 2020.

Beginning and intermediate students will paint the sacred icon of the Holy Theotokos, Vladimir Virgin and Intermediate/Advanced students will do St. George and the Dragon. Both are in the Russian-Byzantine style of the 15-16c. using egg tempera, 23k gold leaf, on a wooden board with kovcheg.

Those of all levels of experience are welcome. Register now as space is limited to 15. Additional information can be found in the flyer at this link: 2020 Iconography Workshop Announcement

A reminder of the Schedule of Serivces for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross:

Thursday, September 26th, 6:00 p.m. - Great Vespers with Litya

Friady, September 27th at 8:45 a.m. - Matins

Friday, September 27th at 10:00 a.m. - Divine Liturgy followed by Fellowship Hour

Please find at this link for your edification, the General Confession text that Metropolitan Jonah discussed in his class on confession.

General Confession of St Ignatiy

While in Australia, Metropolitan Jonah was interviewed by Demetri Hughes at Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church, Brisbane. The interview was published in four parts. The parts can be found at the links below.

Part 1: Metropolitan Jonah’s journey to Orthodox Christianity - https://bit.ly/2JX1b0k
Part 2: Orthodox treatment of the Virgin Mary and saints compared with other religions - https://bit.ly/2M80Fzi
Part 3: Dealing with temptation, the Jesus prayer and focusing our thoughts when praying - https://bit.ly/2Zh7oe1
Part 4: Knowing your faith, finding healing in our lives and ways to become a 'missionary church' for all people - https://bit.ly/2KbVLyH

Due to the inclement weather today, tonight's adult education class is cancelled. Stay safe and warm today!

The following are changes to the normal calendar:

February 27 - No adult education class

March 2 - No catechumens class

               6:00 Readers Vespers - No confessions will be heard

March 9 - No catechumens class

The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
Saturday, February 9th - No Catechumens’ Class

Saturday, February 9th - 6:00 p.m. Readers Vespers No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel.

Saturday, February 16th - No Catechumens' Class

With the inbound snow beginning late this afternoon and in an abundance of caution so folks are not impacted by potentially quickly deteriorating road conditions, Metropolitan Jonah has cancelled today's catechumens class and Great Vespers.

The following are the services for the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord:

Saturday, January 5th, 2019

- 6:00 p.m. - Great Vespers of the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ

Sunday, January 6th, 2019

- 9:30 a.m. - Reading of the Hours

- 10:00 a.m. - Divine Liturgy for the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ

- 11:30 a.m. - Vespers of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ

Monday, January 7th, 2019

- 9:00 a.m. - Festal Matins

- 10:00 a.m. - Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ

The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:

Wednesday, January 2nd - 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers

Saturday, January 5th - Iconography Guild Meeting moved to January 12th.

Saturday, January 12th - 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Iconography guild. Oiling our icons and Drawing, Part 2.

Friday, January 18th - 10:00 - Great Vespers followed by Divine Liturgy

Saturday, January 19th - 9:30 Reading of the Hours

               10:00 Divine Liturgy with Blessing of the Waters for Theophany

Sunday, January 20th - Baptism at 9:00 a.m.

The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
Saturday, November 17th - No Catechumens’ Class

Saturday, November 17th - 6:00 p.m. Readers Vespers No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel.

Wednesday, November 22nd - Adult education class is cancelled.

Sunday, November 25th - Baptism at 9:00 a.m.

The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
Wednesday, October 24th and October 31st - Adult education classes are cancelled due to Metropolitan Jonah's travel schedule.

Saturday, October 27th - No Catechumens’ Class

Saturday, October 27th - Readers Vespers at 6 p.m.  No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah's travel schedule.

On Sunday, October 14th, the feast of the Protection of the Theotokos was joyfully celebrated in St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Stafford, VA. With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, before Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah elevated several men to the rank of reader and subdeacon: John (Indy) Raccanello was tonsured as a Reader, and Nicholas (Mark) Sanford was ordained as a Subdeacon. 

The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
Wednesday, October 17th - Adult education class will be held as normal (had been previously cancelled).

Saturday, October 27th - No Catechumens’ Class

Saturday, October 27th - 6:00 p.m. Readers Vespers No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel.

The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
Wednesday, September 19th - No adult education class this evening.

Thursday, September 20th - 7:00 p.m. - Great Vespers for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Friday, September 21st - 9:30 a.m. - Reading of the Hours
10:00 a.m. - Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Saturday, September 22rd - No Catechumens’ Class

Saturday, September 22nd - 6:00 p.m. Readers Vespers No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel.

Wednesday, September 26th - No adult education class this evening.
7:00 p.m. Great Vespers for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross

Thursday, September 27th - 9:30 a.m. - Reading of the Hours
10:00 a.m. - Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross

Calendar Changes for July 2018 - Please note the following change to our normal calendar:

     - Wednesday 11 July - 7 p.m. - Great Vespers for the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul     

     - Thursday 12 July - 9:30 a.m. - Reading of the Hours     

     - 10:00 a.m. - Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul

Calendar Changes for June/July 2018 - Please note the following change to our normal calendar:
- Wednesday, June 27th - No adult education class this evening.

- Wednesday, July 4th - No adult education class this evening.

Calendar Changes for June 2018 - Please note the following change to our normal calendar:
- Wednesday, June 20th - No adult education class this evening.

Calendar Changes for June 2018 - The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
- Wednesday, June 13th - No adult education class this evening.

- Saturday June 16th - 6:00 p.m. Readers Vespers No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel.

- Saturday June 23rd - 4:00 p.m. Baptism and Chrismation

On Sunday, May 27th, the feast of Holy Pentecost was joyfully celebrated in St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Stafford, VA. With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, before Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah elevated several men to the rank of reader and subdeacon: Nicholas (Mark) Sanford was tonsured Reader, while Timothy Mellor and Joseph Sirko were ordained Subdeacons. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Christ is Risen!

Next Wednesday, April 25, St Herman’s will be hosting a special guest, Monk Sophronije from the Draganac Monastery in Kosovo. . He will speak at the usual Bible Study on the difficult life of monastics in that warn-torn region of the world. His presentation will be in English.

Draganac Monastery is the sole surviving monastery in the Eastern Region of Kosovo, the rest of the monasteries surviving are in a region of Kosovo known as Metohija. In simpler terms, this is the only living monastery in Eastern Kosovo. There were even other monasteries up until 1999, with monks and nuns, but they were all burnt down or blown up except Draganac. The monastery was founded in 1381, but of course after the Turks and then Communism, there wasn’t much left when the 1990s came around. The current brotherhood was re-established by the Decani brotherhood in 2000, with the current abbot, Archimandrite Ilarion, coming in 2010. The brotherhood numbers 12 members, making it the second largest monastic brotherhood in Kosovo. A full schedule of services is kept and the monastery has close ties with a spiritual father on Athos, and the monastics there also focus on hospitality and missionary/humanitarian work with the local people, who are all extremely poor. Many live on only 100 euros per month.

The Monastery brothers, besides service of prayer, and regular upkeep of the monastery, make incense and wooden carved crosses and prayer ropes, as well as making translations of Orthodox texts into English. Some of them are involved actively with the international community in Kosovo to help further the interests of the local Orthodox population, who are under constant pressure from the Muslim Albanian majority. The monastery also has a large garden for food, and 30 goats and make their own cheese and get milk from them, and also have many chickens. The brotherhood also do covert missionary work with local Muslim Albanians who express interest in Christ and Orthodoxy.

The monks try hard to earn a living, but need help from the outside, because simply where they are, everyone is so poor, people cannot buy incense or crosses, or make much in the way of donations. Fr. Sophronije started a website, www.draganacmonastery.com which has been a BIG help in getting foreign Orthodox to buy things and thus help the monastery.

Fr Sofronije, or as I have known him, Fr Sophrony, started his monastic life with Metropolitan Jonah at the Monastery of St John of San Francisco, in Manton, California. It is a joy to see how he has progressed!

Please inform your friends know about this upcoming event. Especially let Serbs and those interested in Serbia know.

Christ is Risen!

In XC,
Metropolitan Jonah

Calendar Changes for April 2018 - The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
- Wednesday, April 11th - No services or class this evening due to maintenance work on the church.

- Saturday April 21st - 6:00 p.m. Readers Vespers No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel.

Please find attached the updated schedule of services from Lazarus Saturday through Pascha.

Service Schedule

Due to the predicted inclement weather, the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy scheduled for Wednesday, March 21st, 2018 is cancelled.

Please see the attached flyer regarding Contemplative Prayer - A Lenten Retreat led by Metropolitan Jonah on March 24th, 2018.

Contemplative-Prayer-A-Lenten-Retreat Flyer

Calendar Changes for March 2018 - The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
- Saturday March 10th - 6:00 p.m. Readers Vespers No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel.
- Wednesday, March 14th - Presanctified Liturgy is rescheduled for Thursday, March 15th
- Thursday, March 15th - 7 p.m. Presanctified Liturgy in conjunction with the visit of the Miracle-Working Softener of Evil Hearts Icon
- Saturday, March 17th - Parish Spring Clean-up Day
- Saturday, March 24th - 9:30 am - 5:00 pm - Contemplative Prayer - A Lenten Retreat led by Met. Jonah. The day will begin with the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos followed by the Divine Liturgy. The Retreat will consist of meditations and discussions on the Prayer of Stillness. Lunch will be provided. Registration is $35.

Calendar Changes for February 2018 - The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
- Saturday, February 10th – Reader’s Vespers at 6 p.m. No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel schedule.
- Wednesday, February 14th – Great Vespers will be held at 7 p.m. for the Eve of the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord
- Thursday, Febraury 15th – 9:30 a.m. will be the reading of the hours followed at 10 a.m. by Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord

- Monday, Februray 19th - 7 p.m. will be Great Compline with the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

- Wednesday, February 21st and every Wednesday during Great Lent - 7 p.m. will be the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts

- Saturday, February 24th and every Saturday during Great Lent - 4 p.m. will be a class for Catechumens. All are invited.

Metropolitan Jonah's sermons as well as classes and other special events can be found on the Holy Archangels Orthodox Foundation Website at www.holyaof.org.

Calendar Changes for January 2018 - The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
- Saturday, January 13th – Reader’s Vespers at 6 p.m. No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel schedule.
- Sunday, January 14th – Holy Baptism will be at 9 a.m. prior to the Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, January 17th – The Adult Education Class is cancelled
- Thursday, January 18th – Great Vespers will be held at 7 p.m. for the Eve of the Feast of the Theophany of our Lord
- Friday, January 19th – 9:30 a.m. will be the reading of the hours followed at 10 a.m. by Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Theophany of our Lord

Also, Reminder: The Iconography Guild will meet Saturday, January 13th from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 6th:

6:00 PM - Vigil for the Eve of the Nativity

Sunday, Jan. 7th, the Nativity:

9:30 AM - Reading of the Hours

10:00 AM - Divine Liturgy - Followed by a festal potluck in the fellowship hall.

We will be blessed on Wednesday, November 29th by the visit of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign (http://www.kurskroot.com/kursk_root_icon_history.html). Please join us at 7 p.m. for the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos before Her Wonderworking Icon.

On Saturday, November 25th, confessions will be heard beginning at 4 p.m. prior to Great Vespers at 6 p.m.   Confessions will not be heard following Great Vespers on November 25th.

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the adult education classes scheduled for Wednesday, November 22nd are cancelled. Class will resume on Wednesday, November 29th, 2017.

During the Pastoral Conference of the Eastern American Diocese at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, Metropolitan Jonah delivered the attached remarks entitled "The Significance of the New Martyrs for the 21st Century."

"The Significance of the New Martyrs for the 21st Century"

It is that time of year again and we will need the help of everyone who is available (especially our teenagers). In addition to cleaning inside the Church and fellowship hall, we will be raking leaves, pulling weeds, and preparing for the coming Winter. There will be a 2:00PM start time with a cookout dinner to follow at 5:00PM. Come join us for a fun day of helping out around the Church and one of the last opportunities to eat a hot dog before the Nativity Fast.

Due to Metropolitan Jonah's travel schedule, Great Vespers and Confessions scheduled for November 4th, 2017 are cancelled.

Due to Metropolitan Jonah's travel schedule, the adult education classes scheduled for October 11th and 25th are cancelled.

Vespers and Confessions scheduled for Saturday, September 30th, 2017 have been cancelled. Vespers and Confessions will resume as scheduled on Saturday, October 7th, 2017.

Metropolitan Jonah's class on the Acts of the Apostles is cancelled this week, Wednesday, September 27th, 2017 due to the celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross earlier in the day. Classes will resume on Wednesday, October 4th, 2017.

The Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 27th, 2017. The reading of the Hours will begin at 9:30 a.m.

The Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 21st, 2017. The reading of the Hours will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Starting on Wednesday evening, September 13, we will begin a new Bible Study class on the Book of Acts. We will focus on the life of the early Church and augment the text with readings from contemporary writers and early Church Fathers, as well as historical work from modern scholarship. Everyone is welcome! No prerequisites! This should be a great way both to study the Scriptures, as well as build community. Catechumens and inquirers are very welcome.

Starting on Wednesday evening, September 13 at 7:00 p.m., we will begin a new Bible Study class on the Book of Acts. We will focus on the life of the early Church, and augment the text with readings from contemporary writers and early Church Fathers, as well as historical work from modern scholarship. Everyone is welcome! No prerequisites! This should be a great way both to study the Scriptures, as well as build community. Catechumens and inquirers are very welcome.

Our annual iconography workshop was held Sept. 12 - 17th, 2016. It was taught by Fr. Igumen Mefodii, of the Skete of St. Maximos the Confessor and master iconographer of the Prosopon School of Iconology. It was a blessed week of prayer, lessons, a few struggles, and spiritual growth, to create an icon on the board as well as to grow into the Icon (Image and Likeness) of Christ. (Two students not shown.) We are looking forward to our next workshop, Sept. 11-16, 2017.

The renowned Swiss psychiatrist Paul Tournier once wrote: “I could give very many examples, especially of patients who have come to visit me only once, . . . with the sole purpose of finding someone to whom they could confess a sin that has been weighing upon them for years. . . . The tremendous joy brought by forgiveness plays an important part in causing the medical effects [of healing]. . . In many cases I have seen a physical illness disappear overnight after the confession of a lie or an illicit love-affair.” Thus even a Reformed Protestant like Tournier recognized that confession is good for the body, as well as the soul.

Read the full article >

Father brought out the new icon of St. Herman of Alaska, our parish's patron saint, which had been blessed today. Father and Deacon Alexander placed it into the kiot where it was venerated for the first time. The icon was written and donated by Mat. Joanna Laymon and embedded with the relic presented to us by the cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

Read more about the iconography guild and workshops at St. Herman

A group of parishioners and a guest from Aquia Episcopal Church enjoyed the 11:05 a.m. game between the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs in DC on July 4. Alas, the home team lost to the Cubs 7-2, but "a good time was had by all."

Middle row from right to left: altar boy Andrew Geracoulis & dad Steve, guest William Johnston, Alf Kentigern Siewers & son Nicholas (dual parishioners from Pennsylvania), Archpriest Alexander, altar boy Seraphim Rosado and dad Herman.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

After the joyful Paschal Liturgy the parishioners met in the parish hall breaking the fast by sharing Pascha baskets filled with traditional foods,

The next afternoon over thirty parishioners and guests met for Paschal Vespers at the home of Deacon Alexander and Matushka Joanna. The Gospel Lesson was read by parishioners in English, Greek, Latin, German, Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian, French and Spanish, which reflected our parish’s multi-ethnic diversity. The celebration of Christ’s resurrection then continued with an Agape Potluck Feast. The highlight of the day for the many children present was an opportunity to drive Deacon Alexander’s tractor.

- Deacon Alexander & Matushka Joanna Laymon

View the photo album (36 photos)

Our wonderful young people celebrated the Triumph of Orthodoxy Sunday with a procession around the church with their icons, led by the clergy and altar servers. Thanks be to God the Holy Trinity for our youth, the future of the Church!

- Xenia (Gina) Van Weddingen, Education Coordinator

Read about other ministries, Read Full Story

The Iconography Guild of Theodosia trekked off to the National Gallery of Art on Feb. 8th to visit the National Gallery of Art's Byzantium exhibit. Those of us who trudged from Union Station in the bitter cold were rewarded upon our arrival at NGA to a wonderful albeit short collection (about 170 pieces) of never-before seen art objects outside Greece.

- Dna. Monica Pappas

Read about the Icon Guild, Read Full Story

On Sunday, November 10, His Grace George, Bishop of Mayfield conducted the first hierarchical visit to St. Herman of Alaska Church in Stafford, VA.  Reader's Steven, Jason, and Moses were tonsured on this day by Bishop George.

View Photo Journal, Read Full Article

Read About the holy orders of Bishop and Reader

Evana Nicole Velesaris was baptized and chrismated at birth on October 27, 2013.

View Photo Journal

Read about Holy Baptism, Read about Holy Chrismation

Noah James Heitke was baptized and chrismated at birth on September 22.

View Photo Journal

Read about Holy Baptism, Read about Holy Chrismation

Calendar Changes for February 2018 - The following are changes/additions to our normal calendar:
- Saturday, February 10th – Reader’s Vespers at 6 p.m. No confessions will be heard due to Metropolitan Jonah’s travel schedule.
- Wednesday, February 14th – Great Vespers will be held at 7 p.m. for the Eve of the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord
- Thursday, Febraury 15th – 9:30 a.m. will be the reading of the hours followed at 10 a.m. by Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord

- Monday, Februray 19th - 7 p.m. will be Great Compline with the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

- Wednesday, February 21st and every Wednesday during Great Lent - 7 p.m. will be the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts

- Saturday, February 24th and every Saturday during Great Lent - 4 p.m. will be a class for Catechumens. All are invited.