The parish was established and blessed by Bishop Jovan (Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church) in 2001. Previously, it had existed as a missionary Orthodox Bookstore, started by Saint Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, Ca. When the monastery entered the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Saint John mission also applied. James Barfield to serve the community in northwestern Nevada.
Our mission parish is comprised of many nationalities, primarily American converts to Orthodox Christianity. On December 2, 2020, our beloved Father James Barfield passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness. Over the next twenty months the community was served in several temporary ways. Then on August 1, 2022, Bishop Maxim appointed V. Norman Kosanovich as the full-time priest. The original missionary outreach of the parish, "Forerunner Bookstore," is open weekdays, located in downtown Reno at 644 Plumas Street. A smaller but well-stocked version of the bookstore exists at the church in Carson City. We welcome all who seek "The Way, The Truth, and The Life," our Lord Jesus Christ, together with the Father who is without beginning, and the all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit: The Holy Trinity one in essence and undivided!
