Welcome!

Welcome to St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Shillington, PA 19607.

Our parish is part of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, under the omophorion of His Eminence, MARK, Archbishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. It was established in June 1973 under the jurisdiction of The Orthodox Church in America, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Kiprian, of blessed memory.

Purpose of our parish is to serve Orthodox Christians of greater Reading area, as well as to evangelize and witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our community. If you are already Orthodox and wish to find out more about our parish, or perhaps if you are not an Orthodox Christian and desire to learn more about the “One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic Church” of Christ, please feel free to contact Father Vjekoslav. You are welcome to find his contact information on our web-page.

Our parish follows Revised Julian Calendar. Services are conducted mostly in English. St. Herman’s parish family is very welcoming and loving. Come, visit us, and “you will see the Glory of God!” (Jn 11, 40)


Weekly Bulletin

OCA News
OCA News
Matushka Olga’s Relics Uncovered in Kwethluk, AK
26 Nov 2024 at 2:37pm
mka olga

On November 15-16, 2024, clergy and faithful from across Alaska, the lower 48 states, and from other parts of the world gathered in the village of Kwethluk, AK for the uncovering of the relics of Matushka Olga. Led by His Grace Bishop Alexei of th...




Five Retreats for Widows of Clergy Available Online
15 Nov 2024 at 9:17pm
clergy wives

Over the course of the past two years, the Clergy Wives Advisory Group (CWAG) of the Office of Pastoral Life (OPL) has sponsored five online retreats for widows of clergy of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). The retreats have been edited for t...



Divine Hymnody: Theology Set to Music
14 Nov 2024 at 10:27am
soca

When someone first enters an Orthodox Church, they are often struck by immense beauty: colorful iconography in the glow of a candle or lamp, bright vestments that adorn the clergy and the icon stands, the sweet fragrance of incense that instantly ...



Holy Synod Meets for its Regular Fall 2024 Session
13 Nov 2024 at 7:15pm
synod

On November 4-7, 2024, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met for its Regular Fall 2024 Session in Springfield, VA, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon.

The meeting began on Tuesday, November 5, with...



1917-18 Diaries of Metropolitan Leonty Published in Russia
12 Nov 2024 at 8:31am

The newly-published diaries of Metropolitan Leonty (Archpriest Leonid Turkevich at the time) provide a first-hand account of proceedings of the historic Moscow Church Council of 1917-18 and a dramatic chronicle of his time in Russia in the throes ...



Strengthening Clergy Brotherhood Through In-Person Retreats:  The Value ...
6 Nov 2024 at 10:57am
stewards stewards

This past year, nearly 120 bishops and priests from across the Orthodox Church in America came together for a 3-day OCA Clergy Retreat at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake Conference Center in Mundelein, IL. Organized by the Office of Past...



OCA Delegate at National Council of Churches Annual Christian Unity Gathering
4 Nov 2024 at 6:44pm

On October 15-18, 2024, the National Council of Churches (NCC), representing 37 member communions from mainline Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, African American, and others convened its annual Christian Unity Gathering (CUG) in Nashville, Tennessee....



His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Attends Diocese of the South Assembly
1 Nov 2024 at 6:31pm
dos

On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Alexander, Archbishop of Dallas and the Diocese of the South, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon traveled to Richmond, VA, to participate in the annual Assembly of the Dioce...



Steward Sunday: Thriving in Ministry Program for Parish Priests and Clergy Wives
31 Oct 2024 at 8:53am
stewards

On Steward Sunday, we are called to reflect on our role in supporting the pastoral life of our Church, and one way we accomplish this is through the Office of Pastoral Life’s Thriving in Ministry Program. This program, specifically designed for pa...