Byzantine/Eastern Catholics on the Eastern Shore of Virginia/Marylard/Delaware?

[KE4NYV]

New member here, but life long Byzantine.

Just over a year ago, I moved to the Eastern Shore of Virginia to work for NASA. One of the hardest things to do was leave my little church behind (in Virginia Beach, VA) and go to an area where I don’t have a Byzantine church within 3 hours of me. In fact, I have to go all the way back to Virginia Beach for liturgy (when I can make it).

After being here a year, I have learned there are many Russian and similar decent people living in this area and I have even found a few who follow the Eastern Rite. So I am looking for more to see if there is even the slightest chance that we can start a church/mission here. I assume that I need to contact the Eparchy of Passaic, but I want to see first if we even have the people here to support it.

So if you are in these areas of the mentioned states or Delmarva region, please contact me and let me know if you would be interested.

Thanks and God bless!

Jason
RPC Electronics, LLC
www.rpc-electronics.com

 

[5Loaves]

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Welcome Jason.

New member here, but life long Byzantine.

…After being here a year, I have learned there are many Russian and similar decent people living in this area and I have even found a few who follow the Eastern Rite. So I am looking for more to see if there is even the slightest chance that we can start a church/mission here. I assume that I need to contact the Eparchy of Passaic, but I want to see first if we even have the people here to support it.

So if you are in these areas of the mentioned states or Delmarva region, please contact me and let me know if you would be interested.

I’m not familiar with the area you speak of. I assume you’re familiar with the Find-A-Parish Eastern & Oriental Catholic Directory and that the DC- Arlington - Alexandria areas are not near you. There also may be folks on that forum who would be in the area you’re speaking of, or have friends in the area.

How did you discover that there are other Eastern Catholics near you?

 

[KE4NYV]

I’m not familiar with the area you speak of.

If you look at the east coast of Virginia, you will see a slim strip of land hanging off of Maryland, making up the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. This strip of land is actually part of Virginia. This, along with the Maryland area just north of there and Delaware are all referred to at the DelMarVa or Eastern Shore region.

I assume you’re familiar with the Find-A-Parish Eastern & Oriental Catholic Directory and that the DC- Arlington - Alexandria areas are not near you. There also may be folks on that forum who would be in the area you’re speaking of, or have friends in the area.

I have searched high and low for a church close by. Even when it comes to Roman, there are only a few within a few hours of me. Any DC/Northern Virginia is out of question since it would require me to drive all the way into Maryland, cross the bay and go around Annapolis to get there. Too far to go for an hour long liturgy.

How did you discover that there are other Eastern Catholics near you?

It was coincidence mostly. I have managed to meet several Russians who are living here and working to either go to school or otherwise. During casual conversation, the subject came up about religion and so far I have had at least a few tell me they were Eastern, Orthodox or actually Byzantine. Most of them are not practicing since they do not have a formal church to attend. Much is my situation the same. I still have my icon corner and pray daily, so that keeps me connected to a point.

 

[Miserissima]

Hi Jason,

You don’t have to go all the way to Virginia. There are quite a few churches on New Hampshire Avenue in the Silver Spring area (about 45 minutes away from the Bay Bridge), and two churches that I know of in DC near CUA. I hope this shortens your trip a little, because I don’t know what is available on the Eastern shore.

Here are two more closer ones:

St. Gregory of Nyssa in Beltsville

Mother-God in Baltimore

You could call the Byzantine Catholic Mission in Gaithersburg and they may help you to find something (perhaps in Annapolis).

 

[5Loaves]

If you look at the east coast of Virginia, you will see a slim strip of land hanging off of Maryland, making up the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. This strip of land is actually part of Virginia. This, along with the Maryland area just north of there and Delaware are all referred to at the DelMarVa or Eastern Shore region.

Thanks for the description. It must be a beautiful area. The nearest I will have ever been was DC and Baltimore, so not very near.

I have searched high and low for a church close by. Even when it comes to Roman, there are only a few within a few hours of me. Any DC/Northern Virginia is out of question since it would require me to drive all the way into Maryland, cross the bay and go around Annapolis to get there. Too far to go for an hour long liturgy.

I’m sorry you’re deprived of Divine Liturgy and Mass. I often think most of us in the US are very spoiled by the many options we have at least for the Roman Rite Mass. I am blest to have two English speaking Byzantine parishes about an hour from my home. My parish is quite tiny so we don’t typically have festal vespers. Many in my parish, including myself go to a Russian Orthodox church for vespers and some feast days such as Theopany when my parish does not have Liturgy. I don’t know if there are any Orthodox parishes near you and whether you would consider going there for vespers.

It was coincidence mostly. I have managed to meet several Russians who are living here and working to either go to school or otherwise. During casual conversation, the subject came up about religion and so far I have had at least a few tell me they were Eastern, Orthodox or actually Byzantine. Most of them are not practicing since they do not have a formal church to attend. Much is my situation the same. I still have my icon corner and pray daily, so that keeps me connected to a point.

I certainly hope you will be able to work towards an actual Mission in your area. Did the other Eastern Catholics, and Orthodox, you met up with seem similarly interested in establishing a mission?

I will keep you all in my prayers. My parish is not accessible on Sundays by public transit from where I live, nor is the Orthodox parish I’ve been blest to take part in. I do wonder about the day when I’m no longer able to drive. I just give thanks for every Sunday and feast day I’m able to celebrate with ECs and Orthodox. I happily drive other members around as often as they ask.

I hope CAF will be a help to you in some way.

 

[Patchunky]

I certainly hope you will be able to work towards an actual Mission in your area. Did the other Eastern Catholics, and Orthodox, you met up with seem similarly interested in establishing a mission?

There was a mission on the Shore about 15 years ago. My priest was the one who started it. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough families to keep it going.

There is an Orthodox mission parish in Delaware, just north of Ocean City.

orthodoxdelmarva.org/

It seems to be a very active community. One of my best friends painted the icons in the sanctuary for the community.

Hope this helps…

 

[KE4NYV]

Hi Jason,

You don’t have to go all the way to Virginia. There are quite a few churches on New Hampshire Avenue in the Silver Spring area (about 45 minutes away from the Bay Bridge), and two churches that I know of in DC near CUA. I hope this shortens your trip a little, because I don’t know what is available on the Eastern shore.

OK, I want to clarify where I actually am. There seems to be some confusion since you are suggesting that DC is closer to me. I do not live in Maryland and I do not live on the west side of the Chesapeake bay. I live in Virginia and I am on the east side of the bay. Here is a Google map showing my exact location, in reference to Maryland and Virginia:

maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Greenbackville,+VA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.505383,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Greenbackville,+Chincoteague+Island,+Accomack,+Virginia&ll=38.246809,-75.992432&spn=4.529052,9.876709&z=7

Having set that straight, I hope you can now see that going over the bay bridge to Baltimore or DC is quite a trek for liturgy. I am aware of the several churches around the Baltimore and DC area, but they are too far to go for a day trip.

 

[KE4NYV]

Thanks for the description. It must be a beautiful area. The nearest I will have ever been was DC and Baltimore, so not very near.

Yes, it is. I love living here and I really love the dark at night. Not only for sleeping well, but I can see stars in the sky that I never knew were there.

I certainly hope you will be able to work towards an actual Mission in your area. Did the other Eastern Catholics, and Orthodox, you met up with seem similarly interested in establishing a mission?

Some seemed interested, but they were more of a conduit to others that might be more serious about it.

 

[KE4NYV]

There was a mission on the Shore about 15 years ago. My priest was the one who started it. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough families to keep it going.

Ah! Really? I had no idea. I haven’t been able to meet many Catholics around here at all, so I never knew that. You may be familiar with my former parrish Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in Virginia Beach and our sister church Ascension in Williamsburg. I know both of those churchs were started by Fr. Glenn Davidovich.

There is an Orthodox mission parish in Delaware, just north of Ocean City.

orthodoxdelmarva.org/

It seems to be a very active community. One of my best friends painted the icons in the sanctuary for the community.

I have heard that and I want to investigate, but I can’t find much information about it.

In fact, I found some vauge information that there was a church IN Ocean City, but it is/was either Greek or Armenian, so I’m not sure how well that would work for me. Then again, beggars can’t be chosers

It seems to be a very active community. One of my best friends painted the icons in the sanctuary for the community.

Hope this helps…

Yes! Thank you, I am going to go check now!

 

[Patchunky]

In fact, I found some vauge information that there was a church IN Ocean City, but it is/was either Greek or Armenian, so I’m not sure how well that would work for me. Then again, beggars can’t be chosers

The Greek Orthodox church in Ocean City proper is called St. George;

8805 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842
Tel: (410) 524-0990

Divine Liturgy is in Greek if I"m not mistaken…

 

[KE4NYV]

After all of the parishes mentioned, I am not sure if this one was mentioned, but today I saw a sign for it. Looks like a good option:

holytrinityuoc.org/

I know that Byzantines are not welcome to receive holy communion at a Greek Orthodox parish, but I am confused on whether I can at a Ukrainian. I have seen some mention of Byzantine-Ukrainian, which would lead you to believe that they are one in the same, but different in their own ways.

EDIT: By the way, it’s in Whaleyville, MD. About 15 minutes NW of Berlin, MD. About an hour from me in Greenbackville, VA.

 

[Aramis]

Byzantine is a term to ignore. It refers to all the Eastern Orthodox (including Greek, UOC-MP, OCA), non-Canonical Eastern Orthodox (UOC-KP, UOAC, and UAOC), and 14 of the 22 Eastern Catholics…

The Ruthenian Metropolia calling itself the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh really is a misnomer; a delusion of grandeur in text. Technically, the UGCC is just as much Byzantine Catholic as the Metropolia of Pittsburgh. And honestly, about as likely to have ethnic Carpetho-Rusyns in most any parish in the US.

The Ukrainian Orthodox might or might not admit you to communion; when in doubt, ask the pastor. But be prepared to follow their praxis if he does. Including Saturday and Sunday. There are, after all, at least 4 distinct groups called the "Ukrainian Orthodox " in colloquial speech.

 

[dvdjs]

The Ruthenian Metropolia calling itself the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh really is a misnomer; a delusion of grandeur in text. Technically, the UGCC is just as much Byzantine Catholic as the Metropolia of Pittsburgh. .

In the old country where there are few in any Greeks, the common term was, and is, Greek Catholic. In the US, this term was also originally used by us, and while it could have referred to any church using the Byzantine rite, there were no complaints or accusations of delusions of granduer, AFAIK. But we were confused with ethnic Greeks, truly. So Byzantine was substituted for Greek. As long as other churches used others descriptors, this use was not confusing, and was less a misnomer than Greek Catholic. However, recently I have noticed the term Byzantine Catholic being used in Russian and Ukrainian Catholic parishes, perhaps to shed the ethnic identification. Hard to say how this will develop.

 

[cpfjd]

Hi:

I’m a member of the Knights of Columbus in Wilmington, Delaware and one of our parishes is St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church. I believe that our pastor holds Divine Liturgy in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware on sundays (at least during the summer) and he has a mission parish in Delaware City (on the west end of the C&D Canal). If this is convenient, I can post more detailed info.

Chris F.

 

[KE4NYV]

I am pleased to report that the priest from the Ukrainian church in Whaleyville, MD called us back last night and let us know that they would love to have us attend DL with them. He also told us that we ARE welcomed to receive holy communion there. This church is actually served by three different priests, each coming from their own home parish to serve this mission parish. They rotate each month, so neither of the three gets “burnt out” from the traveling.

Glory to God!