
1277 N. Paul Drive
Welcome to St. Raphael of Brooklyn Orthodox Church. We are an American Orthodox Church, part of the Orthodox Church in America, which is an autocephalous (self-governing) church headquartered in Syosset, New York. Our services are all in English. Our roots are Russian, so our style and traditions may be considered Russian.
St. Raphael's was established in 2000, the year that St. Raphael of Brooklyn was canonized as a saint. He was the first Orthodox bishop ordained in the United States and promoted the diverse ethnic Orthodox groups to come together. We are a parish of approximately 50% Orthodox converts and 50% "cradle" Orthodox. We come from various Orthodox jurisdictions including Russian, Carpatho-Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Greek and Albanian.
Father Serigous Gerken is our priest and a monastic, a monk priest. He joined us in July 2014 after having served in California, Alaska, and New Hampshire. He also lived as a monk on Mount Athos in Greece.
We extend a blessed welcome and invite you to pray with us during this service. A number of us are from different Orthodox jurisdictions and we all may do things a little differently. So just do what you are used to doing - there is no right or wrong here. (Click Here for our Sunday Liturgy Practices)

At the heart of the iconostasis, a prominent feature in Orthodox Christian liturgical spaces, stands the Annunciation. This sacred depiction showcases the Virgin Mary, divinely selected to fulfill the profound role of becoming the Mother of God, positioned on the right. On the left, the Archangel Gabriel is portrayed, conveying the momentous tidings of this divine mission.
Encircling the Annunciation are representations of the four Evangelists, symbolizing the authors of the Holy Gospel: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These Evangelists are revered for their pivotal contributions in chronicling the life, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The arrangement of these elements within the iconostasis underscores the central themes of salvation and divine revelation that are integral to Orthodox theology and worship.

The two new icons of St Herman of Alaska and the Holy Myrrhbearers have been completed by Alla and Alexis Gormately
and affixed on the iconastisis. Also included in this section, is the Icon of Saint Raphael of Brooklyn.

SATURDAYS
4:00 pm - Great Vespers
SUNDAYS
9:45 am - Reading of Hours
10:00 am - Divine Liturgy
THURSDAYS
4:00 pm - Akathist to St Herman of Alaska

Zachary Daniels
Pressure Washing - 08/18/2023 Zachary Daniels, with his meticulous care and attention to detail, is diligently sweeping and cleaning the walkways, turning them into pristine paths of neatness and order. (3 images) Zachary Becomes A Catechumen
Zachary Becomes A Catechumen - 08/13/2023 Zachary was received into the parish as a catechumen on August 13, 2023 (14 images) Shawn Becomes A Catechumen
Shawn Becomes A Catechumen - 07/16/2023 Shawn being welcomed into the Parish as a catechumen on July 16, 2023 (6 images)
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Woodland lot
Charity
In the Orthodox Christian faith, the principle of charity and helping others is deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Acts of compassion, generosity, and selflessness are seen as expressions of love and obedience to God's commandments. Emulating Christ's own example of serving humanity, Orthodox believers view charitable deeds as a way to manifest their faith in tangible ways, fostering unity, compassion, and support within the community. Through acts of charity, the Orthodox Church emphasizes the spiritual significance of aiding those in need, aligning with Christ's call to care for the least among us and ultimately reflecting the core values of the Christian faith. St. Raphael's donates monthly to different charities the first Sunday of every month. Click here for the monthly list. Charities
St. Raphael Orthodox church makes ongoing financial and food donations to Citrus County Family Resource Center. There is a container in the Church Library for your food contributions. Why not bring in your free BOGO (buy one, get one) food items. No cost to you and a great benefit to familes going through difficult times. The Resource Center expecially needs children's clothing, women's nightgowns and pajamas. These items should be in good repair. Any questions regarding donations (of any kind), please see Nancy Kinley or you can email her from our website. Simply choose "Charity Coordinator" on the drop down menu on our "Contact Us" page |