A Parish on First Colonial Road
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church sits at 621 First Colonial Road in Virginia Beach, a few minutes inland from the Chesapeake Bay. The parish is part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and belongs to the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey. Its membership draws from many Mediterranean and Eastern European backgrounds as well as American-born converts to the Orthodox faith, and the parish gathers each Sunday for the full cycle of Orthodox worship in both English and Greek. The community is known locally for its warm hospitality, its commitment to Orthodox education in all its forms, and a busy annual calendar of fundraisers that support Orthodox charities and local missions.
From a Roller Rink to a House of Worship
The story of St. Nicholas is one of remarkable speed and steady commitment. On November 19, 1980, a small gathering of Orthodox faithful met to explore the idea of forming a new parish in Virginia Beach. Within months, hand-delivered petitions from 121 households reached the Archdiocese, and on April 5, 1981, the first General Assembly convened at Plaza Junior High School. The founding pastor, Rev. Father George I. Paulson, recently retired from the U.S. Navy, presided over that meeting and received the initial parish charter. The altar was set up for the first time, charter members were enrolled, an interim parish council was selected, and a choir formed under the direction of Elaine Kyrus.
Less than a month later, on May 3, 1981, the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Plaza Junior High School, with the interim Parish Council sworn in and the parish's first confirmation and Sunday School classes held the same day. By the end of that summer, the Ladies Philoptochos Society had been organized, the parish newsletter was keeping the community informed, and the first baptism and first wedding had taken place.
On October 11, 1981, the General Assembly unanimously approved the purchase of a former roller rink on First Colonial Road as the permanent site, and Metropolitan Silas authorized the purchase on October 28. After a season of fundraising, the new location was ready for its first Divine Liturgy on February 14, 1982, and the first Easter Service of the Resurrection was celebrated there on April 17, 1982.
Soon the parish set its sights on building an entirely new church on the same site. Years of bake sales, fashion shows, lunches, dinners, craft shows, weekly collections, and GOYA fundraisers followed. The new building was designed and built by Greg Dragas, and its first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Palm Sunday, 1997. The old roller rink was converted into the parish's fellowship hall, which now bears the name of Father Paulson and his beloved Presbytera Evangeline. A wall of commemorative bricks inscribed with the names of loved ones fills the Narthex and continues to grow as a living memorial of the parish family.
Sunday Mornings at St. Nicholas
The rhythm of every Sunday at St. Nicholas follows the ancient Orthodox pattern. Orthros, the morning prayer service, begins at 8:15 a.m. and includes psalms, hymns, the reading of the Gospel, and the Great Doxology. The Divine Liturgy follows at 9:30 a.m., with congregational singing throughout. The most common forms used are the Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great, the central eucharistic celebrations of the Orthodox Church.
All services are in English and Greek and feature congregational singing. From September through May, Christian Education classes follow the Divine Liturgy, and Coffee Hour in the fellowship hall offers a relaxed time for conversation and refreshments. Visitors of any faith are warmly welcomed. The community opens with the words of Romans 15:7: "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. During weekdays, the church is typically open for prayer from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Father John Manuel and the Parish Clergy
Father John Manuel is the fourth Proistamenos, or presiding priest, of St. Nicholas, having begun his ministry at the parish in January 2012. Raised in a vibrant Greek Orthodox home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Father John was baptized at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, where he came under the guidance of Father Alexander Veronis. He attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, earning a Master of Divinity in 1990, and later served in youth and religious education ministries in Delaware, Ohio, and at the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Richmond, Virginia, before being ordained to the Diaconate in 2001 and to the Holy Priesthood in 2002.
Since his arrival at St. Nicholas, the parish has more than doubled in size and grown into a community recognized for its warmth, hospitality, and active ministries. Parish life has expanded through youth programs, a vibrant liturgical life, neighborhood outreach, and a renewed sense of stewardship. Father John is also a published author whose "Fablehood Trilogy" of books uses storytelling to communicate Orthodox Christian themes.
Father John's wife, Presbytera Karen, works as a registered nurse in the emergency department at Chesapeake Regional Hospital and continues her involvement in medical missions to Guatemala. They have four children and twelve grandchildren, several of whom serve as priests in other Orthodox parishes.
Father Paulson served as pastor of St. Nicholas from 1981 to 2004 and remains Pastor Emeritus. The fellowship hall is named in his honor and in memory of Presbytera Evangeline. Other clergy who have shaped the parish include Father Savas Constantinou, who served as assistant pastor and Youth Director from 1997 and as second pastor from 2004 to 2005, and Father James Pavlow, who became pastor in August 2005. Father Bill Bartz has also served the parish alongside his military duties for many years.
Children, Teens, and the Young at Heart
St. Nicholas invests heavily in the formation of its youngest members. Agape, HOPE, and JOY gather children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in a safe, supportive setting to explore the Orthodox faith, build friendships, and grow in a personal relationship with God. The ministry is led by Elena Bruno, Maria Maddox, and Laura Todrovic. The program meets monthly with crafts and activities tied to Scripture and Orthodox teachings, communicates through the church bulletin and emails, reaches out to new families, and hosts a Bible camp each August that coincides with the Dormition fast.
GOYA, the Greek Orthodox Youth Association, is open to all youth from sixth through twelfth grade. Evenings begin with dinner, followed by prayer and a lesson in the church, then move to the Youth Room and fellowship hall for games and conversation. The group also takes trips, attends retreats, hosts lock-ins, and takes part in service projects. Friends are always welcome.
Vacation Church School adds another week of formation each summer, and the Orthodox Mom Squad, led by Katina Vassiliou, gathers the parish's young mothers for fellowship and mutual support as they raise their children in the Orthodox faith. Events like "Mommas in the Morning" and parish beach days are part of the rhythm of family life at St. Nicholas.
Greek School and Lifelong Learning
The transmission of Greek language and culture is a distinctive feature of parish life at St. Nicholas. The Greek Language and Culture School meets on Wednesdays during the school year, with beginner classes at 3:15 p.m., intermediate classes at 4:30 p.m., and advanced sessions at 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The school's curriculum covers the Greek language alongside appreciation of Greek culture, traditions, history, and geography.
An Adult Greek School is also offered for beginners who want to learn Greek as well as for those who want to improve their existing skills. The annual fee is $300, with an additional $60 covering books and materials. Inquiries and sign-ups are handled by Despina Zakos.
Christian Education classes for all ages run from September through May on Sunday mornings after the Divine Liturgy. The parish also teaches the Paraklesis service each year during the two weeks leading up to the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15, an evening prayer to the Mother of God, "a welcome salve to the soul" for anyone suffering grief, sorrow, anxiety, or depression.
Women's, Men's, and Fellowship Ministries
St. Nicholas hosts a full range of small-group ministries that make the parish feel like an extended family. The St. Photini Women's Study meets most Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. (unless a church service falls that day) for topical study of Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition, and the Church Fathers, with the goal of cultivating lives that are pleasing to God. Lena Thames leads the group, which uses materials available through the parish bookstore.
The F.R.O.G.Men, led by Danny Cook and Jack Jacovides, gather the men of the parish for Scripture study, fellowship, and service. The group meets regularly and is known for an annual kickoff party, Sunday football, hockey nights, ODU basketball outings, March Madness gatherings, the annual Palm Sunday luncheon, and the community picnic. The F.R.O.G.Men also raise money through the annual St. Nicholas Golf Tournament in support of local, national, military, and Orthodox charities, as well as scholarships for St. Nicholas families for college expenses and summer youth camps.
The Ladies Philoptochos Society, the parish's charitable arm, has been part of the parish since July 1, 1981. Its Philoptochos Grocery Store offers Greek foods and goods with all proceeds going to national and local charities. The Senior's of the Sea (SOS) ministry gathers the parish's older members for fellowship. The Hospitality Team welcomes newcomers and visitors. The Orthodox Mom Squad, described above, supports young mothers. The parish Bookstore carries Orthodox religious writings, service books, children's books, icons, crosses, incense, and other items for the "church of the home," and is open after the Sunday Divine Liturgy.
The Father Sav Mission Walk and Annual Events
Each fall, the parish comes together for the Father Sav Memorial Mission Walk, an annual walk-a-thon that has become a signature outreach event. Walkers collect pledges from friends, family, and coworkers before the walk, and additional donations and sponsorships from businesses and individuals help cover costs so that every dollar raised goes to charity. The walk takes place at a local park, with the $7 park entrance fee per vehicle the only required expense. A silent auction of themed gift baskets adds to the day's fundraising. Coordinators Ed Ullom and Kathy Stephanitsis help organize the event, with checks made payable to the Father Sav Mission Walk and sent to the parish address.
The Pan Orthodox Cross Dive, held in conjunction with the Mission Walk, brings together Orthodox youth from across the region for a day of swimming and fellowship at the bay, with certified lifeguards supervising all water activities.
Other annual events include the St. Nicholas Golf Tournament hosted by the F.R.O.G.Men, an Icon Workshop taught by Lydia Lynette Hull (an affiliate instructor of the Prosopon School of Iconology) in which participants complete a simple icon using the traditional Byzantine method of egg tempera and natural pigments, and an American Red Cross Blood Drive. Camp Good Shepherd and other regional summer programs round out the calendar.
Stewardship and Membership
St. Nicholas is a full stewardship parish that requires no minimum pledge in order to be a member. The annual Stewardship Pledge Drive takes place in the fall, and members may complete a Stewardship Pledge Card at any time. Stewardship is described as "a way of life, which acknowledges accountability, reverence, and responsibility before God," with the goal of promoting spiritual growth and strengthening faith. Members are asked to commit time, talent, and treasure to support the parish and her ministries, which in turn support the national ministries of the Archdiocese, the Metropolises, and Orthodox institutions.
A member in good standing, as defined in the parish By-Laws, is one who is eighteen years of age or older, was baptized in the Orthodox Church or received through Chrismation, lives according to the faith and canons of the Church, has signed a stewardship pledge card, and abides by the Special Regulations and Uniform Parish Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the local Parish By-Laws. To vote or run for parish council, a member must also have been active in the liturgical life of the church for one year.
The parish's Memorials ministry supports families in scheduling memorial services for departed Orthodox Christians whose funerals took place in the Orthodox Church. Memorials are offered with koliva at intervals of forty days, six months, and one, two, and three years after a passing, and loved ones' names may be submitted for commemoration during the Divine Liturgy through the proscomide sheet in the Narthex.
A Capital Campaign in 2018 supported an interior and exterior renovation of the parish facilities, with continuing work on the indoor renovations. Memorials, beautification efforts, and the commemorative bricks program continue to help the parish care for its building and grounds.
Connecting with the Parish
For those joining in person, the church is easy to find from the major routes. Coming from I-64 heading east, take I-264 East toward Virginia Beach, take Exit 20 for US-58/Laskin Road, turn right onto First Colonial Road (VA 408), and the church will be on the right. The parish livestreams services online, with the stream under construction and continuing to develop. Worshippers may also follow along with Orthodox prayers, services, scripture readings, and saint-of-the-day reflections through the online chapel resources of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Visitors and newcomers are always welcome. The church office can be reached at 757-422-5600 or by email at secretary@stnicksgoc.org.