A committed and growing group of faithful have been gathering in Northern Michigan near where the Mackinac Bridge connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas for reader's services and regular though infrequent services with a priest. Archbishop Peter of Chicago understands how hard it is for small communities to maintain their zeal without regular services and looked for a priest for the community. Priest Dmitri Mihaliov, formerly a deacon attached to St Vladimir in Ann Arbor, was ordained for the mission. He and his wife, Dr. Katherine Mihaliov, moved their growing family to the Upper Peninsula side of the bridge where there were more favorable real estate conditions and have begun regular services in the garage attached to their family home.



Wishing to extend their support for the mission and to establish lasting friendships, the clergy of Northern Michigan gathered on September 14, 2024, for Divine Liturgy and a delicious meal at the Mihaliov home with them and their gathered parishioners. In attendance were the mission’s interim rector and supervising priest, Priest Micah Chisholm of St. Sebastian in Traverse City, Priest Benjamin Naasko of Sts. Sergius and Herman of Valaam in Houghton, Priest Jesse Rimshas of St. Jacob in Ishpeming, and Subdeacon Dionysios DeLong who is attached to St. Ambrose Mission. The joyous day marks a great point in the growing Orthodox presence in Northern Michigan.

Please keep the Mihaliov family and their parishioners in your prayers and consider donating to their good work. The city has allowed them to use this residential garage for only one year before another home from the mission may be found and donations will allow them to find a suitable place more quickly. More information about the mission and its scheduled services may be found on their website at

https://stambroseorthodox.org/

The 2024 ORPR Diocesan Youth Camp session began on Saturday, July 6. The picture above is of Fr. Gregory Joyce with the campers from the Michigan Deanery for this year. Want to see to it that your child can participate next year? VISIT THE ORPR CAMP WEB SITE!

DONATE HERE

On the evening of April 2/15, 2024 the northern parishes of the Michigan Deanery gathered at the St. Jacob Mission with Archbishop Peter’s blessing to serve the sacrament of Unction. This general form of Unction is often served during Great Lent in the Russian Orthodox Church, in support of the striving for spiritual health that we are laboring so diligently for during these holy days.

The service was led by the Dean of Michigan parishes, Archpriest Gregory Joyce. Serving with Fr. Gregory were:

Priest Benjamin Naasko, Sts. Sergius & Herman Church, Houghton
Priest Micah Chisholm, St. Sebastian Church, Traverse City
Priest Jesse Rimshas, St. Jacob Mission, Ishpeming
Deacon Michael Rossmeisl, St. Sebastian Church, Traverse City

A large number of people gathered from throughout the northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula to participate in the beautiful and meaningful Divine Service. Following the anointing, a robust lenten meal was offered to those in attendance. The fellowship of the gathered faithful lasted well into the night, for the opportunity to interact with fellow Orthodox Christians in this northern region is somewhat rare, and therefore extremely important.

PICTURES CAN BE FOUND HERE

MORE INFORMATION ENGLISH + РУССКИЙ

MORE INFORMATION ENGLISH + РУССКИЙ

MICHIGAN DEANERY CLERGY BLESS THE GREAT LAKES FOR THE FEAST OF THEOPHANY

SUN TIMES NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

On the third day of the feast of the Nativity of the Lord, at the Diocesan Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God in Des Plaines, Illinois, Dionysius DeLong was tonsured a Reader and ordained a Subdeacon for service at the St. Ambrose Mission in the Mackinac Straits of our Michigan. Congratulations to Dionysius, and all the faithful of the Mission. May God grant that this is the first of many tonsures and ordinations to serve the Mission for the glory of God!