In the fall of 2020, an interest was posed about starting an Orthodox Mission in the Gettysburg area. With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Mark (Archbishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania) this interest was undertaken. Since this was the height of the COVID pandemic and various hurdles of meeting in person were in place, several Zoom meetings were held to gain interest from Orthodox or interested people from the area. Fr. Timothy Hojnicki, of Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, led the meetings and services with three families from Holy Apostles parish, and several other families and individuals from the local area. Father Timothy contacted the local Orthodox parishes within a 30-mile radius and asked for their support in creating an English Speaking, Pan-Orthodox Community in the Adams County (Gettysburg) area.
On Saturday, March 12, 2021, the first Vespers service was held at the Monahan Funeral Home in downtown Gettysburg. Several Vespers services were held in various places (area churches and Funeral Homes) on a monthly basis by Fr. Timothy to begin discerning the viability of a parish in the Gettysburg area.
After Pascha that year, in a real answer to prayer, Fr. Leonid Schmidt and his family moved into Central Pennsylvania and expressed willingness to serve the mission. On August 27, 2022, Archbishop Mark made his first Archpastoral Visit to the new community officially giving his blessing, and introducing Fr. Leonid Schmidt as the first assigned priest to care for the spiritual needs of the community. From that time on, weekend services were served regularly as they were able. Under Fr. Leonid’s leadership the community began to meet every week at the Holiday Inn and Suites at the Gettysburg outlets, with the faithful setting up and taking down their chapel each week. A Mission Steering committee was established, a P.O. Box, and a bank account were established, and various social media platforms were utilized to get the word out about the new parish.
After more than a year of meeting there, and with the community quickly running out of space, an effort was made to look at several options for another location in the Gettysburg area. A viable option was presented to meet at St. Paul “the Pines” Lutheran Church, which had a side building suitable for a chapel and fellowship activities. On Great and Holy Friday, May 3, 2024, the first services were held at this location.
On Wednesday, December 4, after a period of prayer and reflection, Archbishop Mark decided that the Gettysburg Mission would be under the heavenly patronage of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, with Fr. Leonid officially being appointed Rector.
We ask for the continued blessing of Almighty God on the newest parish of our Diocese for its spiritual, numerical, and financial growth, through the prayers of St. John the Theologian.
Glory to God for all things!