Our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ

Our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is the Head of the Church, which is His Body. According to the Scriptures, He alone is the Good Shepherd and the Great High Priest. To Him is due all glory, honour, and worship!

During His earthly ministry, the Lord chose and sent out Apostles – the Twelve (Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:14, Luke 6:12) and the Seventy (Luke 10.1-16). These Apostles in turn ordained Deacons and others for the work of the Kingdom of God. Through the laying on of hands, by the Grace of the Holy Spirit through the Mystery of Holy Ordination, an unbroken link has been maintained in the Orthodox Church – from Jesus Christ until today.

The Bishops of the Church are the successors to the Apostles and carry on the ministry of overseeing Christ’s Holy Church. The Bishop in each territory (called a “Diocese”) ordains Presbyters (also called “Priests“) and Deacons (meaning “Servants”), to assist in leading the Church in each place. These servants of the Church teach, encourage, and support all Orthodox Christians to fulfill their calling to bring the love and healing of God to the world and all Creation.

Our Leaders are:

His Beatitude, Our Metropolitan TIKHON

His Beatitude, the Most Blessed TIKHON, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All American & Canada

His Eminence, Our Archbishop Irénée

His Eminence, the Right Reverend Irénée, Archbishop of Ottawa and Canada

Our resident priest-in-charge, Fr. John Gryba:

Back Row, Left to Right: Priest Nikolay Melnik, Priest Stelian Liabotis, His Grace Bishop Irénée, Archpriest James Griggs, Protodeacon (now Priest) Nazari Polataiko; Front Row, Priest John Gryba, Matushka Sharon Gryba.

For many years, the Grybas have provided faithful leadership to the St. Nikolai Mission, working together with the many priests that have served the Mission since its beginning in 1997. Fr. John was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on March 2nd, 2014. Since  returning from studies at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Fr. John & Matushka Sharon are providing weekly Vespers and Divine Liturgy services for the Mission. Fr. John was appointed priest-in-charge of St. Nikolai of Zhitsa Mission by His Eminence, Archbishop Irénée, effective March 18, 2015, the Mission’s patronal feast day.