St. Mary, the Holy Theotokos Orthodox Cath Missio

Welcome and Thank You for visiting us.

Few Americans, other than Orthodox Christians, know much about the Eastern Orthodox Church except to recall that in 1054 the followers of Orthodox Christianity divided into the Church of Rome and the Church of the East. After that time the Roman Church spread throughout western Europe, while the other segment, calling itself "Orthodox" (from the Greek words meaning "true belief"), nourished the Christians of the Middle East, the Balkans, the northeastern Mediterranean, and Russia. Only one Christian body of Latin origin, the Romanians, adhered to Orthodoxy; the remainder allied themselves with Rome. The Orthodox Catholic Church of America is a church which brings the western Christian back into union with Orthodoxy - forming the Western Orthodox Church. It is an autocephalous (that is self-governing) ecclesiastical body, the continuation of a mission to Christians established in 1885. In 1892, the indigenous American Orthodox mission was established as the Archdiocese of America, becoming the second oldest Orthodox episcopate in North America. Working within the American milieu, it continues to exist for the express purpose of bringing Americans to Christ within the loving embrace of His Holy Orthodox Church. At present, the OCCA is headed by His Most Rev. Alfred-Louis of Indianapolis-Chicago and Washington, D.C. His Grace, the Archbishop oversees the administration of the United States and foreign missions. He is assisted by a synod of bishops who help in overseeing the educational and liturgical developement of the jurisdiction. The OCCA welcomes all individuals. The Dallas Mission of St, Mary's was started in November 1993 when the first Liturgy was celebrated in a local funeral chapel. Since that time, liturgies have continued to be celebrated on a regular basis. Frs. Ed and Marty were ordained to the priesthood in June 1996. Fr. Kip was raised to the position of an Archimandrite within the OCCA. St. Mary's celebrates the Liturgy according to the restored Gallican Rite. The service is very comfortable for anyone wishing to attend. Our services and sacraments are open to all believers and inquirers. We do celebrate the seven sacraments. Pastoral counseling is available.