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St. Mary Magdalene
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St. Mary Magdalene
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Arab / Middle Eastern Orthodox Church in Savannah, GA

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Orthodox priests and congregation during a religious ceremony in a St. Mary Magdalene church adorned with icons and religious artwork
المجد ليسوع المسيح! إلى الأبد!

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If you are an Arab or Middle Eastern Orthodox and living in Savannah, we would love to welcome you at St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church. We are an Orthodox parish just like every other Orthodox parish. The only difference is that we are under the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). The OCA began through the Russian Orthodox mission to Alaska and North America, so our roots are the same as many Orthodox churches. Our services are mostly in English, but on feast days we also sing hymns in Arabic. In our parish family you’ll meet people with Greek, Russian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Ruthenian, Middle Eastern, and American backgrounds. We may come from many cultures, but the faith and the worship are the same everywhere in Orthodoxy. There isn’t an Arabic or Middle Eastern Orthodox parish of its own here in Savannah. The worship services you will find with us is the same type of services celebrated across the Orthodox world. We gather every Saturday at 5:00 PM for Great Vespers, Sunday for Divine Liturgy at 9:30 AM, and 6:30 PM for Vesperal Liturgy on Feast Days. After Sunday Divine Liturgy, we share food and fellowship as one family in Christ. If you are looking for an Orthodox parish home in Savannah, come and see us. You are always welcome!
We are in Rincon, Georgia - Outside the Greater Savannah

Getting To The Church

From I-95
Take I-95 to Georgia exit 109, route 21 north. Take 21 north for 6 and a half miles, to Fort Howard Road. Turn right onto Fort Howard Road, and proceed 2.2 miles, to 1625, which is on the right side.

Sunny rural landscape with trees, a small structure, and power lines, viewed from a street marked 1625.
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    Frequently Asked Questions

    We are an Orthodox parish in the Diocese of the South under the Orthodox Church in America (also abbreviated as the OCA). 8 Orthodox monks came to Alaska in 1794 to perform missionary work for the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, which eventually led to spreading all over the United States and Mexico and eventual Autocephaly in 1970. Our roots are closely tied to what some may call Slavic Orthodoxy, but our Divine Liturgy, sacraments, and teachings here are the same as in every other Orthodox parish around the world, regardless if they are Greek, Serbian, Arabic, etc… The only difference is jurisdiction. We are the American Orthodox Church.

    The difference with us is administrative (aka what bishop we are under), not spiritual. All Orthodox churches regardless of what country they may call home, share the same one faith, the same Divine Liturgy, and the same sacraments. What you will experience here is the same worship as in Russian Orthodox parishes abroad, or in any other Orthodox jurisdiction. We just happen to be the Orthodox Church in Savannah.

    The vast majority of our services are in English. On feast days or special occasions like Pascha, we also include prayers and hymns in various other languages. If you would like to hear more of the services in Slavonic/Russian, speak with our priest, Fr. Stephen. We try to serve our parish family as best we can and love the rich diversity of our community.

    Yes. As long as you are an Orthodox Christian who is in good standing (meaning you were baptized and chrismated, attend services regularly, and tithe) and properly prepared through fasting (no eating Midnight to Liturgy for morning Divine Liturgy and nothing after 2 PM on Feast Day Liturgies) may receive Communion here. If you are not part of our parish and are part of the OCA, ROCOR, Greek, Antiochian, Serbian, or any other Orthodox jurisdiction elsewhere, you can receive communion. We simply ask visitors to introduce themselves ahead of time (like a day or 2) to our priest, Fr. Stephen either by email (frsteve@savannahorthodox.com) or cell (702-521-6988).

    Every week, we serve Great Vespers on Saturday evening at 5 PM and the Divine Liturgy with Hours preceding on Sunday morning at 9:30 AM. During Great Lent, Holy Week, and other seasons of the year, there are additional services and we encourage you to check the calendar (https://savannahorthodox.com/calendar/). After the Sunday Liturgy and during Great Lent for Presanctified Liturgy, we gather for coffee hour, a meal, and good conversation.

    We encourage anyone visiting for the first time or those who have been Orthodox their whole lives to dress modest and respectful when coming to Church. You are in the presence of God, not at the club or a bar. That said, Men often wear slacks and a collared shirt, sometimes jeans are worn while women will wear dresses or skirts and many choose to cover their heads with a scarf or veil. Children should also be dressed modestly but comfortably. They are kids after all, but teaching them how to be respectful of God’s house at a young age is always a good idea. Our appearance should reflect the reverence of the services.

    Yes. We offer church school taught by Mrs. Jeanie and Dn. Vassily for children after Coffee Hour on Sundays. The children learn about the Orthodox faith, the lives of the saints, the liturgical year, and many other things. We put a huge emphasis on crafts and activities with our youth and love to show off what they are working on or have learned. Church school is open to all families, no matter their background or if they are Orthodox or not.

    Speak with our priest, Fr. Stephen, directly to discuss baptisms, weddings, and funerals. He will work with you to plan and prepare them properly. Fr. Stephen does ask that you come to church for at least 3 Sundays before any baptism or wedding is performed. These are important sacraments and services of the Church and should not just be treated cultural obligation.

    If you are already Orthodox and moving to the surrounding areas in Savannah (Downtown Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Port Wentworth, Richmond Hill, Rincon, Guyton, Springfield, Tybee Island, Bluffton, Hilton Head, Hardeeville, and Brunswick) speak with Fr. Stephen about transferring from your previous parish. This is normally done with a simple letter from your former priest or a conversation over coffee. We aren’t here to check baptismal records and it’s really up to your word. Once you or your family start to attend, make sure you see our treasurer Ron about tithing (because that is really important). Other than that, you are welcome here and we are happy to have you.

    We are on the New Calendar and encourage everyone to keep the fasts as they are able to. Confession is available before and after Saturday Vespers, before Sunday Liturgy, or by appointment.