Our Father among the Saints, Raphael (Hawaweeny), Bishop of  Brooklyn, vicar of the Syro-Arabian Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church and was the first Orthodox Christian bishop consecrated on American soil. Traveling throughout the continent in the first years of the 20th century, he founded thirty parishes in North America. His feast day is celebrated in the Antiochian Archdiocese on the first Saturday of November. His repose took place on February 27, 1915. St. Raphael, a man of angelic name and apostolic fervor, was influenced by many cultures. He was born and raised in the Middle East, educated by Greeks at Halki and by Russians at Kiev, and he spent the last nineteen years of his life as a missionary in North America.  Our parish in Michigan City was consecrated by St. Bishop Raphael Hawaweeny, on September 4, 1914. Most likely the last church before his untimely death

    We are pleased to Welcome you to our small community. If you are already an Orthodox Christian, a pilgrim or a visitor we want your visit to be informative and spiritually uplifting.

      We are happy you are with us today!

      Only Baptized and or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves by fasting, prayer and confession may receive the Holy Eucharist.  We believe that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, by partaking  of Holy Communion we become united in Christ, The Church, and with one another in the Unity of Faith, the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

      Thank your for your understanding that this may only be shared as the teaching of the Apostles: "... Whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you and many sleep (die). For if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world".  (I Cor 11:27-32)

    St. John Chrysostom, commenting on I Corinthians 11:27 says: " I give councel to everyone among you, weather man or woman, weather great or small, to anyone of you that may be guilty of sin, convicted by your own counsels, that first you must repent and Confess your sins, that you may dare, considering yourself unworthy, to approach and touch the Divine Fire itself. For  our God is a consuming fire, and they, therefore, who with faith and fear draw near to God and King and Judge of us all, shall burn and scorch their sins; and it shall enlighten and sanctify their souls. But it shall burn and scorch with shame, the souls and bodies of them that draw near with unbelief. Therefore, many amoung you are ill and sleep in sickness, that is, many dying unconfessed and unrepentant" (Homily of Holy Thursday)

Why Come?

Russian Primary Chronicle: reports of the envoys to Vladimir the Great Prince of Kieven-Rus upon their return from Constantinople and the great church of Hagia Sophia. While still pagan  the prince desiring to know which is the true religion he sent them in 987 a.d. to visit various countries and their religions.

 For those wishing, the mystery of repentance/“confession” is available before and after services or by appointment. Please see Fr. Raphael