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!