Seattle is home to a sizable Russian Orthodox community that dates back as far as the late ninetieth century. If you’re an Orthodox Christian who has recently moved to Seattle-or even if you’re just visiting-and wish to attend services, you’ll find a church convenient to your neighborhood. Most parishes offer not only services, but social and cultural events, as well.
St. Nicholas Cathedral
1714 13th Ave Seattle, WA 98122
Telephone: (206) 322-9387
Web: www.saintnicholascathedral.org
St. Nicholas Cathedral, one of the oldest parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United States, was founded by Russian immigrants who fled the 1917 Russian Revolution. In 1937, the church was consecrated by Archbishop Tikhon of Western America and was dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia.
The main floor of the Parish Hall holds a spacious meeting and dining area with an adjoining kitchen. A small shop here offers religious literature and other religious items. Upstairs is the St. John chapel where St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco stayed in 1966 and where services are conducted regularly. The upstairs area also houses a library.
St. Nicholas Cathedral provides Vigil or Vespers and Matins and, on Sunday, Hours and Divine Liturgy as well as services for major feasts. Services are held in English, but many parish members also speak Russian. The church also offers a Saturday kindergarten and religious studies for children.
Holy Protection of the Theotokos Orthodox Church 564 Ravenna Boulevard
Seattle, WA
98115
Phone: (206) 368-5532
Web: http://www.pokrov-seattle.org
The Holy Protection of the Theotokos Orthodox mission was established in 2000 by a group of Russian-speaking Orthodox Christians and some American-born families. A year later, the mission became a parish under the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The parish now provides traditional Orthodox services on Saturday evenings and Sunday and Wednesday mornings. Services are offered in both Church Slavonic and English. Additionally, the parishes’ own Pokrov Press has begun publishing a series of English-language books on Russian religious philosophy and traditions.
Saint Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral 400 Yale Ave. N.
Seattle, WA
98109
Telephone: (206) 624-5341
Web: www.saintspiridon.org
Originally founded in 1895 by a Russian Orthodox mission to Alaska, this parish now includes both
American-born members and immigrants from various areas of the former Soviet Union. The Cathedral, a brick building with blue onion-domes topped with golden crosses, is modeled after a cathedral in northern Russia.
The parish regularly holds Vespers on Saturday and Hours and Divine Liturgy on Sundays. The Divine Liturgy is also conducted on the morning of major feast days throughout the year. Liturgy in Church Slavonic is provided every fourth Saturday of the month. The parish also holds an annual Russian, Romanian, and Alaskan Bazaar with ethnic foods, crafts, and religious items. In addition, Saint Spiridon’s has established an Orthodox Christian Boy Scout troop.
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church
19962 101st Ave SE
Renton, WA 98055
Pastor’s telephone: (503) 771-0917
Web: http://www.htuocs.org
Members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who usually attend Russian Orthodox services may want to visit this parish. The Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church holds Divine Liturgy once a month in the chapel of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany at 38th Avenue and East Denny Way in Seattle’s Madrona District. Following each Liturgy is a coffee hour and occasionally a potluck dinner.
Despite the fact that Orthodox services are held here so rarely, the Epiphany Parish building is a Seattle landmark and well worth a look. This extensive complex of brick and wood-framed buildings was constructed over a 60-year period beginning in 1911 and is embellished with richly colored stained-glass windows and detailed carvings.
Seattle offers a number of churches where Russian Orthodox Christians can attend worship services in either English or Church Slavonic. Even if you don’t attend regular services, it’s worth investigating your local Orthodox Churches to find out about the bazaars, classes, and cultural events that many churches hold.
