St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

St. John Orthodox Church

The First 25 Years of St. John

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This year marks the 25th anniversary of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church. In spring 1997, families from Holy Trinity Cathedral in Portland meet with the Metropolis of San Francisco missions board to discuss the founding of a new parish west of Portland. Metropolitan Anthony (predecessor of Metropolitan Gerasimos) granted a priest to the newly established mission parish: Fr. Theodore Dorrance, who arrived with his family and celebrated the first service on August 1, 1997, at Barry and Agape K.’s home.

In the years that followed, a vision slowly became reality—though the fullness of that vision is still yet unfolding, as we strive to find our permanent church home. Many of those early families are still dedicated members of our community, while others have fallen asleep in the Lord or moved away. New families have arrived, and the community has been “bursting at the seams” for nearly a decade.

In light of this major milestone, we will have a series of articles in our monthly newsletters from some of the early parishioners, sharing their experience with our newer parishioners—so that together we can enter into the next 25 years of St. John with solidarity and a united vision. May our beloved patron, the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, intercede before the Lord on behalf of his church community here in Beaverton, Oregon!

About Fr. Matthew Swehla

Father Matthew was born in Modesto, California. He grew up attending the Lutheran church, until his father, formerly a Lutheran pastor, became disillusioned by the direction of the national church and left the ministry. A few years later his family visited the Orthodox cathedral of St. John Maximovich in San Francisco—on a whim because of a Russian exchange student they were hosting—and began their journey to Orthodoxy. Father Matthew entered the Church, along with his immediate family, when he was 15 years old.

As a young college graduate, Fr. Matthew attended an Orthodox College Conference at St. Nicholas Ranch, where he renewed his acquaintance with, Annie Nieuwsma. The two knew right away that they were meant to be together and married in 2003.

After working in several professions—in journalism, restaurant fine dining, and commercial real estate development—Father Matthew was called to the priesthood. He entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 2009, along with Presvytera Annie and their first three children. He received his M.Div. degree in May 2013. Fr. Matthew’s first parish assignment was St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on September 8, 2013 and served for four years as the second priest.

In 2017, Father Matthew was assigned as the proistamenos (presiding priest) of St. John the Baptist in Beaverton.

Father Matthew and Presvytera Annie have seven children: Dimas (married to Jessica), Débora (married to Nathaniel), Thomas, Peter, Nicholas, Joseph and Maria.