St Andrew Greek Orthodox Church sits along Sussex Turnpike in Randolph, New Jersey, with the white frame of its sanctuary appearing at the top of the hill as travelers come up from Route 10. Founded in 1965 to preach Christ and the Gospel in Randolph and the neighboring suburbs of Morris County, the parish today gathers more than four hundred families under the leadership of Father John Theodosion. The community is mostly of Hellenic heritage, but it also includes Romanian, Arabic, Serbian, and other traditionally Orthodox backgrounds alongside cradle Americans, all sharing the same liturgical life, the same Sunday School corridors, and the same Greek Festival weekends. St Andrew is part of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey, which in turn belongs to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The Faith at St Andrew
The Orthodox Christian Faith is the foundation of everything that happens at St Andrew. The parish teaches that the Orthodox Church is grounded in two great sources of sacred authority. Holy Scripture, the writings of the Old and New Testaments, reveals the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ and the sacred message He charged the faithful to follow. Holy Tradition includes the writings, liturgical and sacramental customs, oral tradition, and decisions of the Ecumenical Councils preserved through the centuries, and Holy Scripture is itself part of that Tradition.
Seven Sacraments are at the heart of Orthodox life. Four are considered obligatory for every Christian: Baptism, Chrismation (the anointment with holy oil that confirms the baptized), Confession, and Holy Communion. Three are optional but central to the Church's life: Matrimony, Holy Orders (Ordination), and Unction (the anointing of the sick).
The Church Calendar at St Andrew follows the Orthodox year that runs from September 1 to August 31. Each day of the year commemorates at least one saint or sacred event, and the great feasts of Pascha (Easter), the Nativity of Christ (Christmas), the Theophany (Epiphany), the Annunciation, the Transfiguration, the Dormition of the Theotokos, and others are observed each in their season. The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, the twelve articles of the Pistevo, is recited at every Divine Liturgy, and the Divine Liturgy itself - celebrated each Sunday morning and on every holy day - is the principal worship of the parish and the means by which the faithful enter into union with Jesus Christ and unity with one another through Holy Communion.
Sunday and Weekday Worship
On Sundays, the rhythm of the day starts early. Orthros, also called Matins, is served at 8:15 a.m., and the Divine Liturgy follows at 9:30 a.m. After the dismissal the community gathers in the parish hall for a fellowship coffee hour, an established part of the parish's hospitality to members and visitors alike.
Weekday worship follows the same pattern on a smaller scale. Orthros is prayed at 8:00 a.m. and the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m. Other services, including the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and the Funeral Service, are scheduled through the Church office, and the schedule of feast-day services is published in the bulletin and the Family News each month.
For those who cannot attend in person, the Sunday Divine Liturgy and sermons are livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel. Recordings of past services are also kept online so the wider community and any parishioners traveling can stay connected.
Father John Theodosion
St Andrew's parish priest is the Reverend Protopresbyter John Theodosion, who has served the community since May of 2004. Father John grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Nick and Mary Theodosion, both of whom are now also serving the Church - his parents serve Saint Elizabeth the Wonderworker parish in Gainesville, Florida, where his father is himself a priest. As a young man, Father John was active in GOYA, summer camp, swim team, cycling, and the violin, and it was at summer camp at age seventeen that he first sensed God's call to the priesthood.
He went directly from high school in 1983 to Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he earned his bachelor's degree, and then to Holy Cross School of Theology, where he completed a Master of Divinity. After seminary he served as parish youth director at Saints Constantine and Helen in Newport News, Virginia, before moving to New Jersey in 1963 to work in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Office of Youth Ministries under Father Angelo Artemis. In July of 1995 he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Maximos at his home parish of Saints Constantine and Helen in Cleveland Heights, and was ordained to the priesthood by Metropolitan Silas later that year.
For nearly nine years, Father John served the parish of Saint George in Piscataway, New Jersey, working closely with Father Pappas as his assistant for seven of those years. He was transferred to Saint Andrew in Randolph in May of 2004 and has continued to serve the community alongside his wife, Presbytera Athena, whom he married in 1994. Together they have five children: Vasilia, Alexandra, Nicholas, Joseph, and Andreas.
The Patron Saint: Saint Andrew the First-Called
The parish takes its name from Saint Andrew, the First-Called of Christ's apostles. Saint Andrew was from Bethsaida of Galilee, the son of Jonas and the brother of Peter, the chief of the apostles. He had first been a disciple of Saint John the Baptist before following the Lord's call at the Baptist's witness: "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world." For being the first to answer, he is known in Orthodox tradition as the First-Called.
After the Ascension of the Saviour, Saint Andrew preached in various lands and eventually suffered martyrdom in Patras of Achaia. He was crucified on a cross in the shape of an X, the first letter of "Christ" in Greek, a cross that has become the saint's own symbol. The Apolytikion of the feast asks him, as first of the apostles to receive the call and very brother of the prince of them, to intercede with the Lord for peace in the world and for the great mercy of God upon our souls.
Liturgical Ministries
Worship at St Andrew is supported by a wide circle of liturgical ministries. Byzantine chant is led by Panagiotis (Takis) Fotinis, whose chanting helps put the community into a prayerful state of mind. The music of the Orthodox Church is renowned for its beauty, and many of the chants trace their origin back to the time of the apostles; once a worshipper steps into the sanctuary, the icons, the smell of the incense, and the chanters' music combine to lift the prayers of the people.
The Choir, directed by Salomi Masaras, sings at Sunday services from September through June and leads the congregation through the special hymns of Holy Week. Members of all ages are welcome, from the angelic voices of the youth to the many talented adults who give of their time each week. Choir members praise God in their Sunday commitment and are a source of beauty for everyone in the pews.
Altar Boys in third grade and older assist the priest at the altar throughout the year, including the special services of Great Week and the great feasts. Prosphora Bakers offer another quiet liturgical ministry: prosphora is the Greek word for offerings, and each week several parishioners bake the bread that is offered to God and sanctified in the Holy Eucharist. A Welcoming Committee rotates through parish groups each Sunday morning to greet and seat worshipers and to receive offerings at the end of the Divine Liturgy, creating an orderly and warm environment for both parishioners and visitors.
Sunday School and Religious Education
All youth ages 3 through 18 are welcome at St Andrew's Sunday School, and the school shares the rhythm of the Sunday morning liturgy itself: all students attend the 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion, then proceed to their classrooms from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. The teaching team is led by Directors Rachel Lopardo and Maro Schuster, supported by Faye Paskas, Dr. Herbert Schuster, Kia Paskas, Marina Venizelos, Vickie Geannakakes, Maria Galvin, Presbytera Athena Theodosion, Dina Aspromatis, Gina Wnek, Eleni Koukoularis, and Photeine Lopardo.
Classrooms are organized by grade: PreK ages 3 to 4 meet in Room 205; kindergarten and first grade meet in Room 206; grades 2 to 4 in Room 203; grades 5 to 6 in Room 102; grades 7 to 8 in Father's office; and grades 9 to 12 in Room 103. A small snack is offered to each class, and parents are encouraged to share information about food allergies through the registration form. The curriculum is guided by and largely sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, supplemented by other Orthodox books and resources.
The Sunday School program is structured around three national age-tiered ministries that share the same goal of leading young people into a living relationship with Jesus Christ and into active membership in the sacramental life of the Church. HOPE, the Hellenic Orthodox Primary Education ministry, serves children in kindergarten through second grade. JOY, the Junior Orthodox Youth ministry, serves third through sixth graders. GOYA, the Greek Orthodox Youth of America, serves teenagers in grades 7 through 12, provided the child is in seventh grade and at least twelve years old by October 1. The Little Angels Playgroup (LAP) gathers infants through Pre-K and their parents in a setting that supports Orthodox parents in encouraging one another and sharing the questions of raising children in the faith.
GOYA ministry is built around the four characteristics of Worship (Liturgia), Fellowship (Koinonia), Service (Diakonia), and Witness (Martyria), and the Saint Andrew chapter participates in a multitude of regional events each year based on the skills and interests of the young people of the parish.
Hellenic Afternoon School and Greek Dance
For families who want their children to grow up speaking Greek as well as praying in it, St Andrew operates the Hellenic Afternoon School (HAS) for Kindergarten through sixth grade. Classes meet on Thursdays and use textbooks and workbooks to encourage children to speak Greek both in class and at home with their families. A Preparatory class for the Consulate General's examinations is offered to students over the age of twelve who have completed grade 6 or its equivalent. All Greek School families must be current stewards of Saint Andrew.
Dance is a parallel tradition. The Junior Greek Dance program welcomes children up to age 11 across multiple levels, each meeting in 45-minute sessions led by an experienced instructor who has taught Greek dancing for many years in Northern New Jersey communities. Three sessions are typically offered on Thursdays: 6:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. An advanced Senior Dance Group for GOYA members stresses commitment, enthusiasm, teamwork, and peer mentoring; members are taught various regional dances from Greece and the wider Hellenic diaspora and perform at Metropolis-wide competitions as well as the parish's Sights and Sounds and Greek Festival events.
Education Ministries for Adults
Adults at St Andrew can choose from several education ministries. A Monthly Orthodox Discussion Group enriches spiritual growth through conversations on aspects of the Orthodox Faith, understanding the Bible, and how these teachings apply to daily life. A Bible Study Group gathers around five points for studying scripture: faith, prayer, study, application, and witness, with the understanding that the Gospel is not a Gospel unless it is lived.
The Orthodox Men's Fellowship Breakfast meets biweekly as a group of men seeking to deepen their personal experience in Christ through fellowship and shared discovery of the truths of the faith. Men from all Orthodox jurisdictions are welcome, as is anyone interested in a deeper journey into the Christian faith. The parish also hosts other seminars and philanthropic efforts driven by parishioners and their interests.
Adult Fellowship Organizations
Philoptochos is the women's philanthropic society of the parish, working under the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The literal translation of Philoptochos is "Friend of the Poor," and the local chapter, #1024, gathers women in the twofold mission of indiscriminately assisting those in need locally, nationally, and globally, and of promoting the Greek Orthodox faith and traditions. Chapter meetings are held at the church at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month except June, July, August, and December; membership dues are $45 annually. Major fundraisers include the Tricky Tray each May and a Rummage Sale in September.
AHEPA, the American Hellenic Progressive Association, is represented locally by AHEPA - Morris County Chapter 300, working alongside the Daughters of Penelope - Alexander #250. AHEPA and the Daughters strive to keep Hellenic culture alive while supporting many local and national philanthropic, educational, and cultural projects, including scholarships awarded each year to high school seniors going on to college or university.
The Agape Group gathers the community's senior members for fellowship on the second Monday of each month, September through June, at 11:30 a.m. in the church hall. Each month a talented parishioner prepares lunch, and an offering basket is available. Throughout the year the Agape Group enjoys dinner theatres, movies, trips to monasteries, visits to Saint Michael's Home in New York, and other outings, always looking for new ideas. Agape contributes to the parish's needs and to Development. There is no membership fee, and all are welcome.
Faith Kitchen and Community Outreach
Faith Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) charity that began in 2005 and operates out of Trinity Lutheran Church in Dover, New Jersey. On the fourth Saturday of every month, Saint Andrew sends a team of volunteers to serve a hot meal to the men, women, children, elderly, working poor, unemployed, veterans, immigrants, homeless, and food-insecure members of the broader community. Guests receive a delicious hot meal along with sandwiches, granola bars, and a fruit cup for the next day's lunch. The ministry operates under a no-questions-asked policy and welcomes all regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity, striving to provide a safe, clean, and pleasant environment served with love, respect, and compassion.
Each month, the Faith Kitchen service is sponsored by one of the parish organizations - Philoptochos, the Parish Council, Daughters of Penelope and AHEPA, or GOYA - and parishioners are invited to help by donating to the cost of the meal, by donating food, or by signing up to serve. Philoptochos also runs food drives in support of the Interfaith Food Pantry of Morris County, coat drives for the Market Street Mission, and a knitting ministry that produces blankets, scarves, and pillows for hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, and orphanages. The chapter also ministers to those in prison and welcomes anyone interested in helping regardless of experience or schedule.
Stewardship and Giving
Orthodox Christian Stewardship is a way of life that acknowledges accountability, reverence, and responsibility before God. Saint Andrew's operating budget is entirely supported through the stewardship commitments of its parishioners, and becoming a steward begins when one believes in Him and offers back to God a portion of the gifts with which one has been blessed. Stewardship is built around the three cornerstones of Time, Talent, and Treasure, and every parishioner is invited to participate at the level appropriate to the blessings received.
Members can give online, by mail, by text message, through the Abundant Giving mobile app, or by check. A stewardship form is available for those who wish to pledge time, talent, and treasure, and the parish offers giving history, scheduled gifts, and saved payment methods through the mobile app. Light a Candle offerings can also be made online so that the clergy can pray for the named living and departed during the divine worship services.
For longer-term giving, the Eternal Light Society, established in 2012, gathers those who have made a commitment to support the ongoing ministries of the parish through planned gifts. The society gathers regularly for meetings, luncheons, dinners, newsletters, financial planning seminars, an annual artoclasia, and an annual memorial service. A range of giving vehicles are available, including bequests, gifts of cash, securities, life insurance, retirement plan beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, deferred gift annuities, charitable lead trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and real estate gifts.
The Bookstore, Library, and Ancient Faith Radio
The Saint Andrew Bookstore is a ministry of the parish dedicated to providing the community with religious reading materials, icons, artwork, religious music, and sacramental, devotional, and inspirational products. The bookstore extends the Greek Orthodox learning from the services into the home and serves Orthodox Christians and non-Christians who pass through the parish's doors. A lending library offers parishioners the chance to borrow books and DVDs, and the shelves feature books on Orthodoxy from well-known Orthodox scholars, books and texts in both contemporary English and Greek, Greek Orthodox icons, prayer ropes, incense, and even a history of Saint Andrew Church itself, authored by Father Tsigas.
For daily spiritual reading, the parish links to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese's daily scripture readings, fast days, and saints of the day. For music and talk, the parish recommends Ancient Faith Ministries, which provides online Orthodox radio stations, live call-in programs, and downloadable Orthodox content to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through publications and creative media.
A Continuing Mission
Sixty years after its founding in 1965, Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church continues to gather families from across Morris County and the surrounding suburbs around the same Divine Liturgy, the same Byzantine chant, and the same sacraments that have defined the Orthodox Church from its earliest days. Whether through Sunday School classrooms, GOYA retreats, the Hellenic Afternoon School on Thursdays, the Daughters of Penelope and Philoptochos fundraisers, the monthly Faith Kitchen in Dover, or the simple act of lighting a candle at the front of the nave, the parish lives out its mission of being committed to God, Orthodox worship, Christian education, philanthropy, and Hellenic culture for the benefit of all those whose lives it touches.