Сербский храм св. Андрея, Христа ради юродивого (Реддинг)

This was taken from an article Elena Ellis wrote a few years ago for the Valaam magazine.  It has been updated, however it needs a bit more added to bring it up to date (i.e. connections to the monastery, coming under the Serbian diocese, a little about Bishop Jovan, St. John the Wonderworker, Father Seraphim Rose, and their influences on the lives of those in our church, etc… and how and when we came to have our Priest Father Michael and his family.)

The grand opening of the Door to Paradise Bookstore in Redding, California was accompanied by a thunderous clap of lightning and a drenching rain that blew in and blew out quickly, as summer storms often do. We took this as a sign from heaven, blessing our humble endeavors. That evening we had a slide show about Mt. Athos, attended by thirty people. This was a special and inspiring day in the community of the St. Andrew Fool-for-Christ Mission, and many more such days have followed. God has clearly showered us with His abundant grace and mercy.

Our mission parish began with a small Orthodox study group dedicated to St. Macarius the Roman. We met weekly for several years in homes, and oftentimes a monk or nun would come to speak to us about spiritual life. During these years a desire was born in us to open an Orthodox Bookstore. When our numbers had increased to fifteen souls the search for a building increased in earnest. We already had a small home chapel constructed in the former family room of one of the new converts and dedicated to St. Andrew Fool-for-Christ of Constantinople.

During the following year the study group became a catechumen class, held at the home chapel which by this time, was beginning to bulge at its seams, as six more souls were preparing for baptism at the coming Pascha.

In 1998 by God’s Providence a wonderful location for our mission parish and bookstore was found in the historic district of downtown Redding. After negotiations, an agreement was made, the lease was signed, and work began immediately. From Wednesday of Bright Week until Saturday night renovations continued non-stop, with everyone — men, women, and even children — working together. Floors were ripped up, walls demolished and a former chocolate factory began to take the shape of an Orthodox chapel. Walls and ceiling took on a mysterious midnight blue color, and an iconostasis was erected and adorned with icons. Furnishings were moved in and the Resurrection vigil was served in preparation for Divine Liturgy on the following day of Thomas Sunday.

In the ensuing weeks the attached street-side storefront began its own transformation from a second-hand clothing shop to an Orthodox bookstore. Bookcases were brought in and filled, an old jewelry display case was revived and put into service, and a small side room was transformed into a cozy oak-paneled reading room, fashioned after an English tea room. Coffee, tea and cookies were placed on a wooden table to greet customers as they entered the new Door to Paradise.

It has been almost five years now since our humble beginnings at the bookstore and chapel. During this time we have had daily Vespers, Resurrection and Feast day vigils and Sunday Divine Liturgy services. One eventful year we had twelve baptisms during a Paschal snowstorm.

Some of our missionary work has included evening lectures on a variety of topics, from Church Liturgics to slide shows of the Holy Land and other Pilgrimages. We have hosted a few conferences including an Orthodox Authors Association Conference, a Pentecost Conference and more recently the Western Serbian Diocese Clergy Retreat. We have sponsored a number of pilgrimages to Russia, various places in California and America and more in the future.

We have had fun putting on «ethnic nights» with traditional dinners from various countries; we have had Russian, Georgian, and Palestinian «nights», each followed by a slideshow and lecture. Recently after Sunday Divine Liturgy and Trapeza we were treated to Serbian Folk dancing and a few of the faithful joined in to learn these traditional folk dances.

The opening of our bookstore and the humble beginnings of our Parish has brought so many blessings into our lives, and the opportunity to serve our Lord in ways we would have never dreamed of. Thinking back over the past events, one is struck with the extraordinary kindness shown to this little mission and bookstore by God through the intercessions of St. Andrew and all the holy Fools-for-Christ to whom we are dedicated, and the Protection of the Mother of God. For it is not we ourselves who alone labor at these tasks, but also our heavenly protectors. May glory be given to God for all things!

If you have any questions,
comments or want to know more
about Orthodox Christianity,
please contact us by:
Telephone: (530) 356-0288
Address:  1865 Diamond St.,
Anderson, CA 96007

Источник: www.standrewfoolforchrist.org