St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church: A Century of Faith in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Tucked into the corner of 81st Street and Ridge Boulevard in Bay Ridge, St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church has been a steady presence in Southern Brooklyn since 1917. Founded by members of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the parish has gathered for more than a century to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, mark the great feasts of the Orthodox calendar, and serve the neighbors of Bay Ridge and greater New York City. The parish sits under the omophorion of His Eminence Metropolitan SABA, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America, and is shepherded today by Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, with Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh serving at the altar.
The church's motto, "Ancient Faith for Our Times," captures the character of the community. St. Mary's is a parish where the eighth-century hymns of St. John of Damascus share space with the steady work of a Bay Ridge food drive, where Byzantine chant rises beside the laughter of a Lenten workshop, and where the prayers of the Church are offered in the unbroken tradition of the first Apostles. "Come and See" is the church's invitation, and the church extends that invitation warmly to anyone curious about the Orthodox Christian faith.
The Weekly Liturgical Rhythm
The heart of St. Mary's life is its weekly round of services. On Saturday evening, the community gathers for Great Vespers at 5:00 PM, the opening service of the liturgical week that prepares worshippers for the coming Sunday. On Sunday morning, Matins is sung at 9:30 AM, followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM, the central act of Orthodox worship in which the faithful receive the Holy Gifts.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reader leads the congregation in the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Visitors are warmly welcomed; the pastor greets newcomers at the coffee hour that follows. Only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting, and recent confession are invited to receive Holy Communion, but everyone is welcome to receive a blessing and to share in the antidoron (blessed bread) at the dismissal.
Beyond the Sunday cycle, the parish observes the full Orthodox festal calendar with services for the major feasts. Great and feast-day services include Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos, the Transfiguration of Christ, the Dormition of the Theotokos, Holy Pentecost, and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, often celebrated together with Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, the parish's neighbor in the neighborhood. The annual cycle also includes the Paraklesis service of supplication to the Mother of God during the Dormition Fast, and special evening Divine Liturgies for feasts like the Ascension.
A History Rooted in Bay Ridge
St. Mary's traces its roots to 1917, when a group of faithful from St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in downtown Brooklyn came together to establish a parish in the growing Bay Ridge community. Since then, the parish has loved and served the neighborhood for more than a century, weathering two world wars, the great migrations that shaped twentieth-century New York, and the changing face of Bay Ridge itself.
One name runs through the parish's modern history like a golden thread: Very Rev. Fr. Paul W. S. Schneirla, who served as pastor of St. Mary's from 1951 until his retirement in August 2002. Fr. Paul's fifty-one years of ministry left an indelible mark on the parish, the archdiocese, and Orthodox Christianity in North America more broadly. In addition to his tenure at St. Mary's, he served as a professor of Old Testament at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York; as Corporate Secretary of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America; as Vicar General of the archdiocese's Western Rite; and as Ecumenical Officer for the Antiochian Archdiocese, where he was a charter member of the Orthodox-Anglican, Orthodox-Roman Catholic, and Orthodox-Polish Catholic Theological Dialogues. He was the first editor of the WORD Magazine, the first chairman of the archdiocese's Department of Christian Education, the Dean of the Atlantic Deanery, and the last surviving member of the original founders of the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA). He was also a General Board Member of the National Council of Churches since the 1940s.
Fr. Paul reposed on September 20, 2014, at the age of 98, at his home in Readington Township, New Jersey. In a parish letter at the time, Fr. Michael Ellias recalled Fr. Paul's trademark response to anyone who asked how he was: "Never better!" - an expression, he wrote, of Fr. Paul's lifelong progress in both the material and spiritual realms. The parish continues to pray for his memory, and the church's memorial page preserves his example as a model of priestly service.
The Orthodox Faith as Lived at St. Mary's
St. Mary's is a parish of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the North American branch of the ancient Patriarchate of Antioch. The Antiochian Church traces its origins to the very city where, as the Acts of the Apostles records, "the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." That scriptural memory shapes the parish's self-understanding, and the Antiochian Archdiocese today spans the continent under the leadership of Metropolitan SABA.
The parish's mission statement, repeated in every Sunday bulletin, is direct and pastoral: "The mission of St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church of Brooklyn, NY, is to love and worship God through participation in the liturgical life of the Church, and to live and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We carry out this mission through education, outreach, fellowship, and works of mercy with love for each other, our neighbors, and our diverse world."
In the church's own words, the Orthodox Christian faith is "evangelical, but not Protestant. It is orthodox, but not Jewish. It is catholic, but not Roman. It is not non-denominational, it is pre-denominational." The parish welcomes inquirers and seekers of all kinds, with a dedicated page linking to resources for those exploring Orthodoxy, including Frederica Mathewes-Green's essay "First Visit to an Orthodox Church: 12 Things I Wish I'd Known" and the Orthodox Christian Network.
Theological formation continues throughout the year. The church follows the full lectionary of the Orthodox calendar, with Epistle and Gospel readings appointed for each Sunday, weekday, and feast. The parish observes the traditional fasts - Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year (except during certain festal seasons), the four Great Fasts of the Church, the Dormition Fast, the Apostles' Fast, and the Nativity Fast. Bulletin readers are reminded of the eucharistic fast from midnight before receiving Holy Communion. The church also marks the great feasts with appropriate liturgical celebration, including the Paschal services of Holy Week and the radiant fifty days of Pentecost.
Education for Every Age
St. Mary's takes seriously the Orthodox commitment to lifelong formation in the faith. Two adult education classes meet on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM throughout most of the year. The Catechism Class, led by Michael Regnier, is a structured introduction to Orthodox Christianity open to inquirers and catechumens preparing for reception into the Church. No prior knowledge is assumed, and drop-ins are welcome. The Bible Study, also led by Michael Regnier, is offered both in person and on Zoom, and walks through books of the Bible (recent cycles have included Exodus and the Pauline Epistles) using the Orthodox Study Bible. The class is open to all.
During the summer months, the education program takes a slightly different shape. Parishioners gather for occasional online discussions, including a young-adult-focused session called "Ask Abouna" in which the pastor fields questions in a more informal setting. The Inquirers and Catechumens class continues for those preparing to enter the Church.
Children are not left out. The Church School, under the direction of Michael Regnier, offers religious education for the youngest members of the parish. Registration for the school year is announced in the late summer bulletins, and children gather during the Sunday cycle for age-appropriate formation in the Orthodox faith. The parish also hosts family-oriented events throughout the year, including a Mommy and Me Tea Party and Family Movie Nights, designed to bring parents and children together in the life of the church.
Our Time: A Fellowship for the 55-and-Better Crowd
One of the most distinctive offerings at St. Mary's is "Our Time," the parish's fellowship group for adults 55 and older. Coordinated by Marilyn Tulaney, Our Time meets on Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00 PM for fellowship, conversation, and shared activity. The group also sponsors Pickleball on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM, a popular draw for those who enjoy a bit of friendly competition.
Our Time is a place where long-time parishioners and newer members of the parish mix easily. The Wednesday afternoon gatherings include refreshments and time to talk, and special events and outings are organized throughout the year. For older members of the parish, Our Time is often a key doorway into the wider life of the church.
Ladies of St. Mary's and the Men's Fellowship
Women's philanthropy and fellowship have been part of St. Mary's since its earliest decades, and the Ladies of St. Mary's continues that tradition today. The Ladies meet on Sundays after the Divine Liturgy several times a year, gathering to coordinate the parish's signature fundraisers and to plan the annual Christmas Boutique, one of the highlights of the Bay Ridge holiday season. Past events hosted by the Ladies and the broader parish community have included a Mother's Day Gala, a Fall Hafli, a Games Festival Night, and an Island Vibes Nite for adults 18 and over.
The parish's MenSOYO (the men's fellowship of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese) gathers for service projects and fellowship, including the annual Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing at the Richmond County Golf and Country Club on Staten Island, which brings together parishioners and friends for a day of recreation and fundraising. Awards presented at the outing include the Victor Samra, Jr. Memorial Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award, both named in honor of long-time parishioners.
Church School and the PTO: Forming the Next Generation
Beyond the Sunday morning Church School, the parish's PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) brings families together for fun, faith, and fellowship. The PTO organizes an annual Games Festival in late May or early June, a Bible Bowl in the spring that tests scriptural knowledge among the youth, and various family movie nights and seasonal events. The PTO also coordinates the parish's participation in FOCUS (Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve), particularly through the annual Backpack Project.
Teen SOYO, the youth fellowship of the archdiocese, is active at St. Mary's and gives the parish's teenagers a chance to serve, lead, and grow together. Each summer, the teens sponsor 48 backpacks filled with school supplies for underprivileged students in District 20 of the New York City Department of Education, partnering with FOCUS to distribute them. The teens have also hosted a FIFA World Cup viewing party and a Karaoke Glow in the Dark Party for teens, mixing fellowship with outreach.
The Choir and the Music of the Liturgy
Music is central to Orthodox worship, and St. Mary's is blessed with a dedicated choir that sings the responses of the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine chant tradition. The choir rehearses regularly, with rehearsals announced in the parish calendar, and is always open to new members. The parish has a particular affection for the apolytikia and kontakia of the festal cycle, and bulletins regularly include the texts of the hymns appointed for the day so that worshippers can follow along and sing.
Beyond the Sunday choir, the parish also supports the St. Mary's Dabke Class, an evening of traditional Levantine line dancing that has been offered in the fall for several years. The dabke class brings parishioners together in a joyful expression of Middle Eastern Christian heritage, and it is one of the many ways the parish keeps the cultural traditions of its ancestors alive.
Outreach: Backpacks, Midnight Run, and Prison Ministry
St. Mary's is a parish that takes seriously the biblical call to serve those in need. The parish's outreach ministry takes several forms, all of them rooted in the conviction that the Christian life is lived out in concrete works of mercy.
The Backpack Project, led by the teens of the parish, provides 48 backpacks filled with school supplies to underprivileged students in District 20 of the NYC Department of Education each year. The teens partner with FOCUS to identify students in need, and the parish community underwrites the cost of the backpacks through donations of $25 per backpack. The annual goal is $1,200.
The Midnight Run ministry sends teams of parishioners into Manhattan late at night to bring food, clothing, and Christian fellowship to homeless men and women living on the streets. The ministry, led by Deacon Farid, takes place several times a year and is one of the most direct expressions of the parish's commitment to the corporal works of mercy.
Each year, the parish observes Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday, supporting the work of the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) through a special collection. Parishioners are encouraged to give generously to this ministry, which brings Orthodox spiritual care to those who are incarcerated. The parish also joins in the annual IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) collection and supports the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), the archdiocese's mission agency.
In addition to these ongoing ministries, the parish regularly hosts a Winter Essentials Drive to collect coats, hats, gloves, and other warm clothing for those in need during the cold months, and it joins the wider Bay Ridge community in the annual Bay Ridge Cares Pancake Breakfast, a neighborhood-wide event hosted at the church.
The Christmas Boutique and the Rhythm of the Year
Few events capture the spirit of St. Mary's better than the annual Christmas Boutique, held the first Saturday of December. Organized by the Ladies of St. Mary's, the boutique brings together vendors, artisans, and home bakers from across the parish and the wider Bay Ridge community. Shoppers find handcrafted ornaments, baked goods, jewelry, and a host of other gifts, all in a warm, festive atmosphere that draws neighbors from throughout the neighborhood. The boutique is also a significant fundraiser for the parish's charitable work.
The Nativity season continues with Nativity Carols sung by the choir on the Sunday before Christmas, and the parish joins with other Antiochian churches in the area for concerts and celebrations, including the annual Christmas Concert at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral. The Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ is celebrated with the full cycle of services, and the new year begins with the Blessing of the Waters at Theophany.
Lent at St. Mary's is marked by a series of Lenten retreats offered throughout the deanery, including retreats at Antiochian Village, St. Stephen the Protomartyr in South Plainfield, New Jersey, and St. George in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The parish also hosts its own Lenten Adult and Teen Workshops, often focused on a particular spiritual theme (recent offerings have included a workshop series titled "Generous Mercy"). The Orthodox Women of the East also hold a Lenten Spiritual Retreat at Antiochian Village each spring. During Holy Week, the parish gathers for the full cycle of services leading to Pascha, the Feast of Feasts.
The Feast of St. Mary and the Patronal Celebration
Each September, the parish celebrates its patronal feast, the Feast of St. Mary. The celebration includes the Divine Liturgy followed by a festal meal and fellowship. The feast is one of the highlights of the parish year, a time to renew the bonds of community and to give thanks for the Mother of God, under whose patronage the parish has been placed.
The parish's name - St. Mary's - reflects the deep devotion to the Theotokos that runs through Orthodox piety. Theotokos hymns appear in every Sunday bulletin, and the great feasts of the Virgin Mary - her Nativity, her Entry into the Temple, the Annunciation, her Dormition - are marked with appropriate solemnity throughout the year.
Practical Information for Visitors
St. Mary's stands at 192 81st Street, on the corner of 81st and Ridge Boulevard in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (zip code 11209). The church is easily reached by car from Manhattan, Staten Island, Long Island, and New Jersey. From Manhattan, the most common route is via the Hugh Carey (Battery) Tunnel or Brooklyn Bridge to the BQE West, then the Belt Parkway East to Exit 1, and south on Ridge Boulevard to 81st Street. From Staten Island, drivers cross the Verrazzano Bridge and take the Belt Parkway West, then follow signs to 4th Avenue and 82nd Street. The church building is on the corner, on the right.
Visitors attending a regular Sunday will find Matins at 9:30 AM followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM. Coffee hour follows the Divine Liturgy and is a great opportunity to meet the pastor and other parishioners. The parish notes that parking is scarce in the neighborhood; the spaces in front of the church are reserved for those with mobility issues, and visitors are encouraged to be considerate of the neighbors when parking.
The dress code is modest and respectful. In the warm months, the parish asks that adults and teens not wear shorts or t-shirts (especially with writing or logos) to the services. "Remember we are coming to worship in a sacred place," the bulletin reminds parishioners. Cell phones should be turned off before the service begins.
The church office can be reached at (718) 238-8008, and the pastor can be reached by email at pastor@smaoc.org. The office email is churchsecretary@smaoc.org, and the general parish email is smaoc@earthlink.net. Online giving is available through the parish's giving page, where donations can be made securely by credit card, debit card, or checking account, with options to give in honor of or in memory of loved ones. The parish's Sunday bulletin is posted online each week, with the full text of the appointed hymns, scripture readings, and announcements.
A Parish at the Heart of Bay Ridge
For more than a century, St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church has been a spiritual home for generations of Orthodox Christians in Bay Ridge and Southern Brooklyn. The parish has welcomed immigrants from the Levant, the Balkans, Russia, and across the Orthodox world; it has buried its dead, baptized its children, married its couples, and stood with its members through every joy and sorrow. It has done so without fanfare, in the steady, faithful rhythm of a parish that knows who it is and Whose it is.
The church's mission statement - to love and worship God through participation in the liturgical life of the Church, to live and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to carry out that mission through education, outreach, fellowship, and works of mercy - is more than a line in a bulletin. It is the daily work of a community that has chosen, as the parish's own words put it, to follow the "Ancient Faith for Our Times." Whether one comes to St. Mary's for a quiet Sunday Liturgy, a Wednesday night Bible study, a Tuesday evening Pickleball game, a Ladies of St. Mary's meeting, a Christmas Boutique, or simply a place to pray, the doors of the church at 81st and Ridge are open. Come and see.