Tag: Colonial Virginia
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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 he found more startling evidence that continues to reshape our understanding of early Orthodoxy in America.
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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 days of July just past I was able to spend some time travelling in the great state, (or should that be…
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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 awaiting me, but I put it to one side assuming it contained little of interest beyond the normal credit card offers.…
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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 he is the first documented convert to Orthodoxy in the Americas, following his reception into the Church in London in December…
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Nicholas Chapman: Was Fr. Samuel Domien a Greek Catholic? Part 3
Editor’s note: What follows is the last of three articles by Nicholas Chapman on Fr. Samuel Domien, the first Orthodox priest known to have set foot in the Western Hemisphere. Domien was fascinated with electricity and became friends with Benjamin Franklin, who mentions Domien in his letters. To read Nicholas’ original article on Domien, from…
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Nicholas Chapman: Was Fr. Samuel Domien a Greek Catholic? Part 2
Editor’s note: What follows is the second of three articles by Nicholas Chapman on Fr. Samuel Domien, the first Orthodox priest known to have set foot in the Western Hemisphere. Domien was fascinated with electricity and became friends with Benjamin Franklin, who mentions Domien in his letters. To read Nicholas’ original article on Domien, from…
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Nicholas Chapman: Was Fr. Samuel Domien a Greek Catholic? Part 1
Editor’s note: What follows is the first of three articles by Nicholas Chapman on Fr. Samuel Domien, the first Orthodox priest known to have set foot in the Western Hemisphere. Domien was fascinated with electricity and became friends with Benjamin Franklin, who mentions Domien in his letters. To read Nicholas’ original article on Domien, click…
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Two Memorials served for Colonel Philip Ludwell III – Tuesday March 14/27
Tuesday, March 14/27, 2012 marked the two hundred and forty fifth anniversary of the repose of Colonel Philip Ludwell III, a native of Williamsburg, Virginia. The metrical books of the Russian Orthodox Church in London, England record that Ludwell died at his home in London at 5p.m. on March 14 O.S., 1767, having previously been…
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This week in American Orthodox history (March 12-18)
This week is a busy one: March 14, 1767: Philip Ludwell III, the first Orthodox convert in American history, died in London. Decades earlier, in 1738, Ludwell had joined the Orthodox Church in London. He was just 22 at the time, and was a rising star in the Virginia aristocracy. Remarkably, the Russian Holy Synod…
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A Transatlantic Transylvanian: The First Orthodox Priest in the Americas?
It is generally considered that the first Orthodox clergy to set foot in the Americas were part of the group of Russian monastics who landed in Kodiak, Alaska in September 1794. I have recently come to hold a different view, as whilst researching another story I encountered evidence of an earlier Orthodox clerical presence on…