Saint Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church

Saint Thomas

Our Vision:

St. Thomas Church is a vibrant, God-worshiping community of Orthodox Christians committed to fulfilling the body, mind and spiritual needs of all people.

Our Mission:

St. Thomas Orthodox Church worships the Lord Jesus Christ as given by God through the Apostles. We humbly and warmly:
     • Welcome all people to our place of holiness
     • Serve their spiritual and physical needs
     • Educate all people
in a Christian context through fellowship and community outreach.

The following is excerpted from the Prologue from Ochrid by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich.

The Holy Apostle Thomas

He was one of the twelve Great Apostles. Through his doubt of the Resurrection of the Lord Christ, a new confirmation was given of that wonderful and saving event, for the risen Lord appeared again to His disciples to convince Thomas.

The Lord said to Thomas: ‘Reach hither thy hand, and thrust into my side; and be not faithless, but believing’, and Thomas cried: ‘My Lord and my God!’ (John 20). After the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the Apostles cast lots to see who would go where to preach the Gospel, it fell to Thomas to go to India. He was somewhat saddened at having to go so far away, but the Lord appeared to him and comforted him. In India, St. Thomas converted many, both rich and poor, to the Christian faith, and founded a Church there, making priest and bishops.

(read more...)

 

About Father James Wright

A native of Barberton, Ohio, the Very Reverend Father James Wright graduated high school in 1970, entered St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and Kings College, both in Pennsylvania, later that year. (read more...)

The History of Saint Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church

The parish of St. Thomas was founded by a group of dedicated women who believed that something needed to be done to keep the Very Reverend Father Christo B. Christoff from leaving Akron after he had announced his resignation at another parish due to ideological differences. (read more...)