Protection of the Holy Mother of God Orthodox Church

06/11/2026

Salvation is not an elevator pitch—come and see that the Lord is good! www.stmaryorthodox.org

06/10/2026

🌿 Registration is Open for St. Mary's Vacation Church School!

Join us July 27–31 from 8:30 AM–12:30 PM for "Becoming Blessed: Living the Beatitudes," a joyful and hands-on Orthodox Christian summer experience for children ages 4–12!

Throughout the week, children will:
✨ Learn about Christ's Beatitudes through Scripture and the lives of the saints
✨ Participate in crafts, games, music, prayer, and outdoor adventures
✨ Explore our gardens and parish grounds
✨ Create prayer stones, murals, sacred art, and a child-sized prayer shrine in our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd garden
✨ Build friendships with children from St. Mary's, neighboring
Orthodox parishes, and the wider community

Each day will include prayer, Orthodox crafts, outdoor activities, songs, snacks, and opportunities to grow in mercy, peacemaking, humility, and love for God.

The week will conclude with a special Divine Liturgy and Cross Procession on Saturday, August 1 at 9:00 AM to mark the beginning of the Dormition Fast. Families are encouraged to attend as we celebrate all the children have learned and created throughout the week.

📅 July 27–31
🕣 8:30 AM–12:30 PM
👧🧒 Ages 4–12
📍 St. Mary Orthodox Church, Falls Church

Register here: https://onrealm.org/stmaryorthodox/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=M2Q1NWE4MzItYWEwMi00ZGE2LWE4ZWEtYjQ0YjAwZGZjNzJi

Space is limited, so register today! If the registration fee presents a hardship, please speak with Fr. David—we do not want cost to prevent any child from participating.

Come discover the beauty, peace, and joy of life in Christ! 🌿activities, setup, hospitality, and supporting younger children.

You may also contact the VCS Director, Lacie Faber, at:
[email protected] Space is limited, and we encourage early registration!

05/15/2026

Visit https://tinyurl.com/ycxrt7dk to learn more & sign-up on Realm - spots are limited - volunteers needed, too!

05/06/2026

04/27/2026

See our full schedule at www.stmaryorthodox.org/calendar!

04/23/2026

Join us by checking out our schedule: www.stmaryorthodox.org/calendar!

04/22/2026

Join us on Sunday, June 7, immediately following Divine Liturgy, for our Church School Recognition Day!

We will gather for a short and joyful program celebrating the dedication and accomplishments of our students and teachers throughout the year. We’ll also look ahead to the coming year, including the need for additional teachers and what our rising students can expect as they move up.

To make the day even more festive, we’ve invited a Mister Softee ice cream truck to join us and be part of the celebration! All Church School students and teachers are invited to enjoy a complimentary treat—on us. Other parishioners are warmly welcome to grab something sweet as well, with items available for purchase.

Rain or shine, this is a joyful parish celebration you won’t want to miss as we wrap up the Church School year and welcome the start of summer together.

04/14/2026

The twelve On Behalf of All Pilot Parishes are spread throughout the country, ten parishes represent eight of the Metropolises of the Greek Archdiocese, plus one Antiochian Orthodox parish, and one parish of the Romanian Episcopacy Orthodox Church in America.

These parishes have taken on the task of assessing the needs of their parishioners and actively seeking accommodations to ensure that children with disabilities, their families, and their caregivers are able to fully participate in worship and in the life of the community.

Many of the Pilots have indicated that ministry to those with autism spectrum disorder is one of their most prevalent needs, and are seeking adaptations to ensure parishioners on the autism spectrum are at home in their parishes and that their communities are better educated and equipped to engage with, understand, and express the love of Christ to those with autism.

For more Autism Awareness resources, visit https://www.goarch.org/autism-awareness and https://www.goarch.org/oboa.

04/13/2026

New Update: Bright Liturgy April 15 is CANCELED! See some Bright Week Schedule updates and always visit www.stmaryorthodox.org/calendar for the latest!