Next Sunday June 4, 2023

Holy Pentecost

View 2023 Holy Week & Pascha Photos...

Welcome!

Welcome to Saint Thomas the Apostle

Orthodox Christian Church!

We are a Christ-centered church who loves to have visitors, and you are welcome to visit or join us for a service anytime! All services are conducted in English. While our church was founded by immigrants from Slovakia, Poland and Western Ukraine, today we are comprised of peoples of all ethnic backgrounds, most of whom are American converts to the ancient Orthodox Christian faith.

If you have questions or would like to visit when there isn't a service, please use the email contact form on the bottom of this page to contact our priest, Fr. Joseph Edgington.

A Word From the Holy Fathers

Christ overturned the devil through suffering and His flesh which He offered as a sacrifice to God the Father, as a pure and altogether holy victim—how great is His gift!—and reconciled God to our human race. He underwent the passion according to the Father’s will and became for us, who were destroyed through disobedience and saved through obedience, an example of how obedient we should be.

Read the full context here...

- St Gregory Palamas, Homily 16

4419 Leonardtown Rd Waldorf, MD 20601

(click for directions via Google Maps)

Click to read our church bulletins

Services & Announcements

Upcoming Services

Sunday, June 4th
PENTECOST
8:45am Matins/Orthros
9:30am Sunday School
10:00am Divine Liturgy

Click Here For the Full Calendar

Announcements

UPCOMING EVENTS

Check this space for events

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Special Appeal to Support Earthquake Victims
His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory, today has issued the following appeal to all Diocesan Parishes to take up a special collection for the victims of the catastrophic earthquake in Southern Turkey and Northern Syria. Click on the link to read his letter.
US Supreme Court - Roe v. Wade Overturned
It is important that our parish faithful in the aftermath of this Supreme Court ruling have accurate and concise information regarding the Orthodox Church's position on the Sacredness of Human Life and the termination of life via Abortion. The linked statements below were approved by the entire membership of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA:

The First, Dated June 19th, 2022, A Statement on the Sacredness of Human Life and its Untimely Termination

And the Second, Dated June 24, 2022, A Press Release published on the AOB website regarding the Overturning of Roe V. Wade
New Church App - Online Donation Available
St. Thomas Parish now has a smartphone app! Our parish family is encouraged to download the “Church Center” app on either the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once you've downloaded the App, search for our parish. From the app you can see the Church calendar, donate, participate in church groups, and be notified about important information from St. Thomas Church. There are two ways you can connect:
Download the Church Center app to your iOS or Android device

Or you can go to the website to give using the Church Center Website instead of the app
Study Series - The Divine Liturgy

(The study series will resume after Pascha.)

Ever wondered why we do the things we do in Liturgy? When did the Liturgy come about? What did the Early church Fathers teach regarding worship? Why do we say 'Amen'? What is an Antiphon anyway? These and other questions will be explored during a new Study Series, Exploration of the Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evenings. Please check the calendar for the schedule.

In the series, will work through the Liturgy to understand why each part is there, its significance in our Corporate Worship and our personal Christian development with a goal of bringing us closer to Christ. We will look at historical writings and explanations to gain a better understanding of our Liturgy.

"The most important aspect of the divine service is that the Orthodox Christian enters into a mystical union with God through the celebration of the Mysteries, especially in the Mystery of Holy Communion; and from this union with God, the Orthodox Christian receives the power of Divine Grace to live a righteous life." - Archpriest Seraphim Slobodskoy

SPF 50 - Scripture Prayer Family

Updated for Great Lent, 2022!!!

Lent is the perfect time to give your family’s spiritual life a boost (or a jump-start)! During our Lenten journey to Our Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection during Holy Week and Pascha, the Church calls us to increase our fasting, prayer, and charity. These activities don’t just take place in the church building—they are meant to be part of our home life as Orthodox Christians.

During the weekdays of Lent, the Scripture readings in church are from the Old Testament. We have selected some Old Testament stories that are both connected to Pascha and are important for children to learn. We will learn about Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea; the Three Youths in the Furnace; and Jonah in the whale.

Follow the below links to participate in this campaign.

Click to Download Lent 2022 Issue (Mar 6 - Apr 16, 2022)

Click To Download Seventh Issue (Jul 7 - Oct 2, 2021)

Click To Download Sixth Issue (Apr 4 - Jul 3, 2021)

Click To Download Fifth Issue

Click To Download Fourth Issue

Click To Download Third Issue

Click To Download Second Issue

Click To Download First Issue

We encourage you to be a part of the SPF50 Ministry. If you missed the first few Issues of reading Scripture and Praying together as a family, you can join now. This Ministry is meant to be ongoing as Scripture reading and praying together as a family are meant to be an ongoing part of your family’s life in Christ.