Corner of Court and Lee Streets
P. O. BOX 2044
CHARLESTON, WV 25327-2044
PHONE (304) 346-0106

THE VERY REV. OLOF H. SCOTT
PASTOR'S STUDY
PHONE (304) 346-0146

Question first appeared on February 18, 2001
What is the difference between a Mission and a Church, and a Church and a Cathedral?

It is up to each Orthodox jurisdiction to determine the parameters for these categories.  The development of new Orthodox parishes are coordinated within our archdiocese=s Department of Missions and Evangelism (DME).

The process begins with significant desire between individuals within a community to establish an Orthodox parish.  The DME investigates and begins to hold meetings with the individuals.  Publicity is prepared regarding the desire to establish an Orthodox presence and meetings/services are scheduled.  If the situation looks promising, a priest is assigned to visit and serve the community on a regular basis. 

The developing community is designated a AMission@ when it reaches a certain stability, usually determined by a set number of pledging units giving a certain minimum set by the DME and the Metropolitan Archbishop.  A mission of the archdiocese is exempt from paying the  archdiocese assessment and receives, free of charge, a certain amount of material for their continued development: church school material, choir music, service books, etc.

When a Mission can support itself and has proved to be stable, its status is changed to AParish@ or AChurch.@  The Parish community is responsible for paying an archdiocese assessment or tithe and must adhere to all tenets ascribed to parishes under the archdiocese constitution.

A ACathedral@ parish is determined by the Metropolitan Archbishop, and is in the vicinity of the bishop=s residence.  St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY, is our Mother Cathedral.  Metropolitan PHILIP and Bishop ANTOUN are in close residence in Englewood, NJ.  We have cathedrals designated at the residencies of our other three auxiliary bishops: Bishop DEMETRI, St. George Cathedral, Toledo, OH; Bishop BASIL, St. George Cathedral, Wichita, KS; Bishop JOSEPH, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA.  In addition, our archdiocese has dedicated cathedrals in other geographical areas due to its extended territory: Eagle River, AK; Coral Gables, FL; Worcester, MA; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.