We Live to Glorify God in All That We Do
Our History
In early 1988, some Orthodox believers petitioned Metropolitan Theodosius to start a new mission in Savannah, GA. These believers began travelling to St Mary of Egypt Church in Atlanta on a monthly basis as well to the Monastery of Resaca, GA, where they eventually met Mother Terri and Fr Peter Smith. In January 1989 an organizational meeting was held by several Orthodox families in Savannah, and out of this meeting St Mary Magdalene was born.
Deanery clergy visited the Mission twice a month. For a while the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the homes of various parishioners until the community was able to gain use of the Seaman House in Savannah, which is situated on Washington Square in the historic section of downtown Savannah.
In May 1990, St Mary’s moved into a storefront facility attached to a veterinarian’s clinic on Skidway Rd. In June of that same year, the community’s first permanent priest, Fr Adrian Pollard, along with his wife Matushka Xenia and their son Daniel, arrived and began ministering to the community.
From November 1994 until April 1995 the community was without a permanent place of worship, but was finally able to rent a facility on Bay St in Savannah, where they stayed until October 1999. St Mary’s then rented worship space in Temple Baptist Church, also in Savannah.
In October 2001, Fr Adrian left St Mary’s for another assignment, and in March 2002 the community received its second pastor, Hieromonk James (Bohlman).
In May of 2002 the community purchased a 1.82 acre tract of land a little north of Savannah, in the city of Rincon, GA. On June 2, after the Divine Liturgy, the whole community of Orthodox believers of St Mary Magdalene drove to the property for a Cross-planting ceremony, thereby claiming the land for God. On December 14th, 2002, the community moved into their new Residence on the land, and held their first Divine Liturgy in Rincon on Sunday, December 15th.
In February of 2006 the parish community began the building of its new Temple and celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in it on August 13th, 2006.
In 2022, Fr. Michael Matsko became our temporary rector while awaiting a much earned retirement. On January 1st, 2025, he was finally granted such a retirement with Fr. Stephen Osburn becoming our full time priest.
We thank God for all that He has blessed our parish with its growth and love of community.
Gallery
Dawson, Kaya, and Daisy Baptisms
25 PhotosDawson, Kaya, and Daisy Baptisms
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1 week ago
Stephen III Baptism
25 PhotosStephen III Baptism
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1 week ago
Gifting Ms. Jeanie an Icon for 50 years of Church School Teaching
16 PhotosGifting Ms. Jeanie an Icon for 50 years of Church School Teaching
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1 week ago
Ghost Pirates Game 10 17 2026
25 PhotosGhost Pirates Game 10 17 2026
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1 week ago
Made in the Image Podcast Behind the Scenes
25 PhotosMade in the Image Podcast Behind the Scenes
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1 week ago
St Mary's Out in the Community 2026
25 PhotosSt Mary's Out in the Community 2026
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1 week ago
Blessing New School Year 2026
25 PhotosBlessing New School Year 2026
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1 week ago
Blessing Honey 2026
8 PhotosBlessing Honey 2026
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3 months ago
New St. Mary Icon
14 PhotosNew St. Mary Icon
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3 months ago
Misc in Church 2026
25 PhotosMisc in Church 2026
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3 months ago
Pdn. Vassily's First Sunday as Protodeacon - July 26th, 2026
25 PhotosPdn. Vassily's First Sunday as Protodeacon - July 26th, 2026
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4 months ago
Protodeacon Vassily's Elevation - July 22nd, 2026
25 PhotosProtodeacon Vassily's Elevation - July 22nd, 2026
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4 months ago
Blessing Cars 2026
25 PhotosBlessing Cars 2026
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4 months ago
Chastity and Jeremiah Baptism (April 19th, 2026)
25 PhotosChastity and Jeremiah Baptism (April 19th, 2026)
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5 months ago
Church School
3 PhotosChurch School
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5 months ago
Easter Egg Hunt 2026
25 PhotosEaster Egg Hunt 2026
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5 months ago
Mother's Day 2026
25 PhotosMother's Day 2026
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5 months ago
Pascha 2026
25 PhotosPascha 2026
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5 months ago
Youth in Church
25 PhotosYouth in Church
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5 months ago
Holy Week 2026
25 PhotosHoly Week 2026
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7 months ago
Palm Sunday 2026 with Baptisms
25 PhotosPalm Sunday 2026 with Baptisms
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7 months ago
Prayer Rope Making Class 2026
19 PhotosPrayer Rope Making Class 2026
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7 months ago
2026 Sunday School Easter Project
8 Photos2026 Sunday School Easter Project
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7 months ago
Veneration of the Cross 2026 and Blessing of New Server Robes
25 PhotosVeneration of the Cross 2026 and Blessing of New Server Robes
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8 months ago
2026 Lenten Retreat with Fr. John Dresko
25 Photos2026 Lenten Retreat with Fr. John Dresko
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8 months ago
Sunday of Orthodoxy 2026 (February 28th and March 1st, 2026)
25 PhotosSunday of Orthodoxy 2026 (February 28th and March 1st, 2026)
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8 months ago
Valentine's Day 2026 Firepit
15 PhotosValentine's Day 2026 Firepit
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8 months ago
Chrismation of Gabriel Savasir
12 PhotosChrismation of Gabriel Savasir
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9 months ago
Annual Meeting 2026
8 PhotosAnnual Meeting 2026
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9 months ago
Blessing Candles 2026
18 PhotosBlessing Candles 2026
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9 months ago
Bishop Gerasim Visit - January 18th, 2026
25 PhotosBishop Gerasim Visit - January 18th, 2026
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10 months ago
Blessing the Waters at River Street 2026
25 PhotosBlessing the Waters at River Street 2026
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10 months ago
Theophany 2026 Liturgy
25 PhotosTheophany 2026 Liturgy
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10 months ago
Saturday Night Firepit
25 PhotosSaturday Night Firepit
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10 months ago
Rigato Family Baptism - December 28th, 2025
25 PhotosRigato Family Baptism - December 28th, 2025
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10 months ago
Cleaning the St. Nicholas Garage 2025
17 PhotosCleaning the St. Nicholas Garage 2025
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10 months ago
Kids Caroling for the Parish 2025
23 PhotosKids Caroling for the Parish 2025
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10 months ago
Bree Hall Chrismation - December 22nd 2025
25 PhotosBree Hall Chrismation - December 22nd 2025
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10 months ago
Christmas 2025
25 PhotosChristmas 2025
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10 months ago
St. Nicholas Day 12-7-25
25 PhotosSt. Nicholas Day 12-7-25
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11 months ago
Gabriel White Baptism
25 PhotosGabriel White Baptism
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1 year ago
St. Simeon’s Parade 2025
19 PhotosSt. Simeon’s Parade 2025
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1 year ago
Fall Fest 2025
25 PhotosFall Fest 2025
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1 year ago
Youth Pumpkin Carving 2025
22 PhotosYouth Pumpkin Carving 2025
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1 year ago
St. James Liturgy 2025
25 PhotosSt. James Liturgy 2025
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1 year ago
Catechumens
25 PhotosCatechumens
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2 years ago
Youth Sports
23 PhotosYouth Sports
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2 years ago
Photos
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4 years ago
Cover photos
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4 years ago
Mobile uploads
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4 years ago