St. Thecla Orthodox Church

03/05/2026

This past Sunday, we celebrated the radiant Sunday of Orthodoxy, proclaiming the fullness of the Faith and giving thanks for those who have remained steadfast, our hearts also turn gently toward those who have fallen away… and toward loved ones who departed this life outside the Orthodox Church.

This Sunday, March 8th at 8:15am (prior to the Divine Liturgy), St. Thecla Orthodox Church in Wheaton will pray the Akathist to St. Varus on behalf of the reposed non-Orthodox.

St. Varus is known as a compassionate intercessor for those who passed from this life without having known the Orthodox Faith. In love and hope, we commend them to God’s mercy.

Sunday, March 8th
8:15am (before Divine Liturgy) -- please note DST!
St. Thecla Orthodox Church
11510 Georgia Ave, Lower-Level Annex
Wheaton, MD 20902

If you would like names to be prayed for during this Akathist, please submit them by 9pm on Saturday, March 7th, using this form:
https://tinyurl.com/StTheclaStVarus

As our parish grows, your prayers and support sustain this work of love. If you feel moved to contribute, donations may be made at:
https://st-thecla.org/give

May the Lord, Who desires that all be saved, receive our prayers and grant rest to His servants.

01/23/2026

Dear all,

Given weather forecasts throughout the week and continuing today, both this weekend’s Saturday afternoon Vigil and Sunday morning Divine Liturgy are canceled.

Sunday morning at 9:00 am we will read a virtual Akathist to Saint Varus; the Google Meet information, including links, follows:

Akathist to St. Varus

Sunday, January 25 · 09:00 – 10:00
Time zone: America/New_York

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/yic-ecpn-fic
Or dial: (US) +1 316-302-5937 PIN: 703 250 884 #
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/yic-ecpn-fic?pin=1040369367459

To provide names of reposed non-Orthodox for commemoration, please use this form: https://forms.gle/abyjmXB8a6N7vv37A
Names should be submitted no later than 9 PM Saturday evening.

In Christ,

Fr. John

St. Thecla Orthodox Church in Wheaton, MD (https://st-thecla.org/) is starting a prayer initiative. On odd months (January, March, May, July, September, November) we will pray the Akathist to St. Varus on behalf of the reposed non-Orthodox. On even months (February, April, June, August, October, Dec...

01/21/2026

12/02/2025

🌟 This Giving Tuesday, Help St. Thecla Build a Permanent Home! 🌟

Today, on Giving Tuesday, we invite you to be part of something truly beautiful happening right here in Montgomery County.

Since our very first service in 2019, Saint Thecla Orthodox Church has grown from a handful of faithful into a joyful, vibrant community—a parish filled with prayer, song, children’s laughter, deep friendships, and the love of Christ. In just six years, our mission parish has outgrown two rented worship spaces!

Now, with our current lease ending soon and rental costs rising, we are taking the next faithful step:

purchasing a permanent church home.

And by God’s grace—and the generosity of people like you—we are already making incredible progress.
🙏 We have raised nearly $267,000 toward our $850,000 down-payment goal.
To put this in perspective: in just over one year, our building fund grew by more than $143,000. Glory to God!

A permanent church will allow us to:
✨ Offer a stable spiritual home for our families
✨ Grow our Sunday School and youth programs
✨ Deepen our liturgical life
✨ Expand our service to the community
✨ Build a lasting foundation for generations to come

On this Giving Tuesday, your gift—of any size—makes a meaningful difference.
You may also make a donation in honor or in memory of a loved one, a beautiful offering that will support the life of the Church for years to come.

💛 Give through the PayPal Charity Giving link at the end of this post, or by visiting:
👉 www.st-thecla.org/donate
👉 https://www.gofundme.com/f/be-a-founder-donate-to-the-saint-thecla-building-fund

📷 Want to learn more, watch services, or explore other ways to give?
www.st-thecla.org

Thank you for your prayers, your support, and the love you show our parish.

May God bless you abundantly for your generosity.

Saint Thecla Orthodox Church in Wheaton, Maryland is a young … St Thecla Orthodox Church, Maryland needs your support for Help Us Build a Permanent Home for St.Thecla Orthodox Church

11/16/2025

Mother Maria Visit – Orthodox School for Girls in Bethany – Monday 11/24, 7 PM

With the blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas and Archimandrite Roman, the head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in the Holy Land, Mother Maria, leader of the Orthodox School for Girls in Bethany, is visiting a number of parishes within the Eastern American Diocese. While her visit is primarily to speak about and fundraise for the School, she can also speak to the situation of Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land.

As part of her visit, the parishes of Holy Apostles and Saint Thecla will be hosting Mother Maria at St. Thecla Orthodox Church in Wheaton MD, Monday evening, November 24 at 7 PM. Mother Maria will give a presentation followed by a question and answer session; light refreshments will be provided.

A collection will be taken the evening of the event on behalf of the Bethany School. Donations may also be sent directly to the Bethany School’s PayPal account: https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1355728 or through PayPal to the account linked to the email: [email protected]. Checks made out to the Orthodox School of Bethany can also be sent to the Synod of Bishops; be certain to include a note indicating where the funds are to go.

Help me spread the word about Orthodox School of Bethany. Together we can make a difference.

04/29/2025

For those who are able attend on Thursday at the funeral of Carol Natasha Mulligan, please consider contributing to the meal using the link below.

Dear Parishioners, With deep sadness, we share the news that (nee Carol) Natalia Mulligan has passed away. Natalia was a cherished member of our parish and touched the lives of so many with her warmth and kindness. While our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in coming together to honor her memory an...

12/07/2024

Mary is all set up at Sts Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, on River Rd in Potomac, MD. Stop by and be sure to send anyone you know in the area to try one our delicacies or taste a shot of Irish Cream and place an order to help build St Thecla’s 😊

10/15/2024

10/13/2024

Please note: Vigil tonight. October 13, 2024, has been canceled.

10/12/2024

☦️Nadia Young, a member of our parish who went missing in Europe during September, has unfortunately been found deceased. In addition to asking for your prayers, we would like to ask for donations to help bring Nadia home for burial. Thank you for your prayers and support during this difficult time. A link to the Go Fund Me is below, and in person collections will also be taken this weekend.

The local Orthodox community mourns the tragic loss of Nadia Y… St Thecla Orthodox Church, Maryland needs your support for Help Bring Nadia Young Home to Rest

10/07/2024

We were blessed to celebrate our parish feast with Metropolitan Nicholas