Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is the church affiliated with the Roman Catholic Pope?

    No. The church operates entirely outside the jurisdiction of the Patriarch (Pope) of the Roman Catholic Church. It is fully autocephalous (self-governing) but maintains a paternal and spiritual affiliation with His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

  •  Who leads the parish, and what is unique about the clergy?

    The parish is led by Archbishop John, O.S.J., who founded the parish in 1991 following his retirement from the Department of Defense and his theological preparation. A proud distinction of the pastoral team—including Archbishop John, Chorepiscopus Aleksy, and Rev. Fr. Thomas—is that all volunteer clergy are dedicated, former active-duty veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

  • What sacraments and services does the church offer?

    St. Michael the Archangel offers five primary holy sacraments and services to its community: Holy Baptism, Holy Chrismation, Holy Eucharist, Holy Confession, and Holy Matrimony.

  • What is the Quiddish Qurbana and what types of Masses are offered?

    The Quiddish Qurbana is the Holy and Divine Liturgy (Holy Mass) of Saint James, which stands as the oldest Liturgy in the Catholic Orthodox Church. The parish celebrates three variations: Traditional Mass, Contemporary Mass, and a dedicated Physical, Spiritual, and Emotional Healing Mass (offered once a month). 

  • Who is allowed to receive Holy Communion at the church?

    To receive Holy Communion, communicants must be baptized in Holy Consecrated Water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, confess their sins to the Lord in the presence of a licit priest, and believe in the Divine Presence of Jesus (Eshoa’) in the Consecrated Bread and Wine, which supernaturally becomes His true Body and Blood.

  • What are the church's core theological beliefs?

    The church stands firmly upon faith in Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God and views the Holy Scriptures as the divinely inspired word of God. The parish deeply venerates the Theotokos (the Mother of God) and incorporates both the Holy Rosary and the Jesus Rope Prayer into its spiritual practices before Sunday morning Mass.