an informal account of
the formation of st. gregory's
By the grace of God, the Columbus, Ohio, Orthodox Christian
community of St. Gregory of Nyssa has always
known its special calling: service to the spiritual
needs of students of The Ohio State University.
From that dedication has grown recognition that charity
for neighbors, community and society at large are as
vital to living Our Savior’s teaching as air is
to breathe.
The small group attending the first service on Jan.
9, 1983, shared a vision with an eager pastor, Father Daniel W. Rentel.
“The
13 gathered that wintry night, the eve of the
Feast of St. Gregory of Nyssa, committed their
newborn mission to the path laid out by Father
Daniel. They also adopted the patronage of St.
Gregory and united with the Orthodox Church in
America.” |
Supported
for 20 years by a hard-working year-round group of worshipers,
St. Gregory’s
has provided a church where students can worship
in English away from home and meet others of the same
faith. It has become a place where students inquiring
into the Eastern Orthodox faith can find answers to
their questions. For some seekers, this association
has led to entrance into the faith by baptism and chrismation,
or by chrismation alone. But St. Gregory’s is not a spiritual center only for OSU students. Students
from other colleges and universities in or near Columbus
are welcome.
::: taking root :::
The new parish endured the pangs and headaches most
missions face: raising funds, searching for a
center to worship, outreach and growth.
For 10 years, the community prayed in a rented chapel
near the OSU campus. The core congregation
set about organizing and fund raising, while irrepressible
students pitched in, teased and energized their
elders.
In
the first year, the congregation celebrated its
first Divine Liturgy, formed a choir and held
the inevitable bake sale. The small group put
together 10 trays of baklava and about 98 dozen
Russian tea cakes to raise an amazing $337. The
baking project continues today at Christmas time.
It is greatly expanded, with nearly every member
of the congregation involved with this key fund-raiser.
By
the end of the 1984, more firsts occurred: an
infant and an adult baptism and a wedding.
read on |
