Category: Firsts
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The Birth of Fr. Raphael Morgan
So I think I found something I’ve been looking for for many, many years — the birthdate of Fr. Raphael Morgan, the first black Orthodox priest in America. First, the backstory. Until now, the…
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Of Antioch and Alexandria, England and America
Introduction: Visitors at Balamand If you were to visit today the web site of the St John of Damascus School of Theology in Balamand, Lebanon you might not be surprised to find a news…
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Photos from Nicholas Chapman’s Ludwell Research Trip in Texas
Editor’s note: Yesterday, we published an article by Nicholas Chapman on his latest discoveries about Philip Ludwell III, his circle, and his descendants. Today, we’re publishing some photos from Nicholas’ excursion to Texas, where…
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Virginian Orthodoxy in the Early American Republic
For almost four years now I have been researching the story of Colonel Philip Ludwell III of Williamsburg, Virginia, since learning of his reception into the Orthodox Church in 1738. During the last few…
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An Unexpected Discovery Concerning Philip Ludwell III
On the last day of May I returned home at close to midnight from a full week in New York City where I had attended Book Expo America. There was a stack of mail…
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The Righteous Shall Be in Everlasting Remembrance: Further Reflections on Colonel Philip Ludwell III
Introduction March 14/27 this year will mark the 266th anniversary of the falling asleep in the Lord of Colonel Philip Ludwell III of Williamsburg, Virginia. As many readers of this web site will know…
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Orthodoxy in America – an Interconnected and Shared History
Presentation given by Nicholas Chapman of Herkimer NY at the OCL 25th Anniversary Conference, Washington DC on Oct 27, 2012. (Original here) Before I begin let me thank George Matsoukas and the Board of OCL…
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Fr. Andreades’ 1867 New Orleans homily
Archimandrite Stephen Andreades was the first priest of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in New Orleans. He arrived in late 1867, making him the very first resident Orthodox priest in the contiguous United States. Very…
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St Raphael Hawaweeny & Spanish language Orthodoxy in the Americas
St Raphael Hawaweeny was a native of Lebanon, who in 1904 became the first Orthodox bishop ordained in the new world. As Bishop of Brooklyn he had oversight over the Syro-Lebanese communities that were…
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A 5th century Greek church in Connecticut? Nope.
Recently, an article has been circulating among some Orthodox folks on the Internet on a purported Greek Orthodox church in Connecticut, dating to the 5th century. If the article is accurate, it’s an absolute…