The Orthodox parish of St. John the Baptist is located in the city of Washington DC, and is a part of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
Recently the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora, visited our parish. A great number of faithful from various Orthodox parishes in the Greater Washington area came to venerate this wonderworking icon.
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What to Expect
If you’ve never been to an Orthodox church before, you may wonder what to expect. You’ll find a warm and welcoming community, a beautiful sanctuary, and a reverent service of worship.
We serve a liturgical rite that has been in use for over 2,000 years. The service consists of singing, readings from Scripture and ancient Christian texts, and hymns sung to melodies and chants that have a long tradition in Eastern Europe.
In addition, we also serve a traditional Saturday evening service called Great Vespers. This service is an opportunity for parishioners to gather together before attending the Liturgy on Sunday.
We are grateful to our Lord for the many people who have come to join us. We are a spiritual family, and we look forward to seeing you soon. Thank you for your support and love of God! Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you might have. We will do our best to answer them as quickly and courteously as possible.
Service Schedule
The Saturday Evening Service, known as Great Vespers, is a brief preparation for the Sunday Liturgy. It consists primarily of singing Psalms, the “evening offering of incense,” and hymns that commemorate Creation and Resurrection.
The church was founded on April 30, 1914, by 42 people of Carpatho-Russian ethnicity living in Spring Valley, New York. On June 1, 1914 an open air Liturgy was celebrated on the property purchased for $2000, and on July 5, 1915 a new church was dedicated.
A parish choir was organized and the first resident pastor, Fr Joseph Havriliak, was appointed in February 1923. In December 1933, his brother, Rev John, became pastor.
He held the position for almost forty years, and his son, Lawrence, served as choir director for many more. In 1995 Lawrence retired and was replaced by Fr Alexander. Today, the congregation is young and vibrant with members from a variety of backgrounds. Several events are organized each year to encourage spiritual growth and fellowship among parishioners.
Directions
St John Russian Orthodox Church is located at 4001 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, about one mile north of the White House/Lafayette Park Metro station. We are also about one block west of 16th Street NW and close to several other metro stations in Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and Brightwood.
The church property includes three other buildings, which are used for office space and Chrysostom Press, as well as seven apartments that parishioners rent. This provides a continuous presence of the Russian Orthodox community in this part of Washington throughout the week.
The parish primarily caters to the English-speaking Russian Orthodox community. Its services are primarily in English, although some of the Liturgy is served in both Slavonic and English. The choir performs a variety of musical numbers, including liturgical classics and folk songs originating in Eastern Europe. A popular annual event is the presentation of a “yolka.” The parish is proud to continue its tradition of excellent church music.
Contact Us
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The best contact pages are organized and concise. They list what you can expect if you contact them, including a promise for a response within 12 hours or less.
If you’re looking for a way to contact the church, you can send us an email, call, or visit our online chat. We’re always happy to help!
Founded in 1949, St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church is a beautiful place to visit and worship. Whether you’re here for a few hours or a day, you’ll enjoy the peace and serenity of our cathedral. You’ll also find a great bookstore selling a wide variety of books on the Orthodox faith and spiritual life. The Logos Bookstore offers a large selection of Bibles, commentaries, prayer books, Lives of Saints, and more!