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St. Nicholas Cathedral's Strategic Direction: Unifying History, Activity, and Vision

This strategic direction, initiated on December 3, 2015, unifies St. Nicholas Cathedral's history, activities, growth, and future vision. Based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Orthodox Church in America, it incorporates ideas from Metropolitan Tikhon and parish discussions. This dynamic guidepost aims to unify the cathedral's work, always evolving to reflect new directions and goals. From the cathedral's origins in 1930 to its present role as the OCA Primatial Cathedral, this strategy focuses on present actions for a future vision. Following Jesus' teachings, the cathedral is dedicated to making disciples, baptism, and teaching commandments. Through outreach, sacraments, and good works, the community engages in daily practices. The cathedral's diverse interactions, events, and educational programs further enrich its mission, emphasizing care, education, and unity among parishioners and visitors.

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St. Nicholas Cathedral's Strategic Direction: Unifying History, Activity, and Vision

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  1. St. Nicholas cathedral strategic direction December 3, 2015

  2. Strategic direction unifies Cathedral history, activity, growth, future vision Based on the Teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, mission, guidance, and direction of Orthodox Church in America Incorporates vision of Metropolitan Tikhon, ideas and suggestions contributed during numerous teleconference calls and parish group discussions A dynamic guidepost to unify all the good work at St. Nicholas Cathedral - a “living work” - not written once for all time, but updated to reflect new directions, priorities, goals “Owned” by entire Cathedral membership at St. Nicholas Cathedral St. Nicholas - local parish (1930 - 1978) OCA Primatial Cathedral (1978 - present)

  3. Time Frames Today– zealously doing Our Lord’s work as prescribed in Matthew 28:19-20 Continuing – Improving the spiritual life of the Cathedral community as a part of our Eparchy – Archdiocese of Washington and OCA Future - Building up for Tomorrow by today’s actions: doing our best with the resources we have now

  4. Today - we follow the Lord Jesus’ direction in Matthew 28: 19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to do all that I have commanded you." We His Teaching in practice through  Reaching Out and Reaching In - “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” Sacramental Life - “Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Good Works, Education, and putting in practice Lord's Commandments - “Teaching them to do all that I have commanded you”

  5. Today – Reaching Out and Reaching In - embedded in the daily life of the Cathedral - “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” Walk-in visitors (100 per week) - the Iconography and architecture, Liturgy, Bazaar Cathedral business cards - contacts, services – “missionary minded” to distribute Outreach to the students at local universities Organized Cathedral visits and tours Personal outreach - friends, family, community Communication –Website, meetups, Facebook Bazaar –1000+ visitors Community presence - 9/11 Unity Walk Community Interactions Alcoholic Anonymous Destination DC interactions Photo Safari –free promotion for Cathedral Prayer cards and counseling for unemployed Attendance - 200-300+ at Christmas, Theophany, 1000+ at Paschal Matins

  6. Today - Sacramental life of the Cathedral - “Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” The Liturgy - building a sense of one community across multiple parish segments – unity in the sharing One Bread and One Cup of the Lord Experienced attached clergy – part of pastoral team Welcome visiting clergy Services provided (baptisms, weddings, panikhidas, home visitations, counseling, etc.) Choir support for full liturgical cycle of services Growing number of the choir conductors and readers Increasing congregational participation in singing Liturgy Regular Hierarchical services Additional altar servers

  7. Today – Good Works, Education, and putting in practice the Teaching of our Lord - “Teaching them to do all that I have commanded you” Care for one another –sick and homebound -both by clergy and parishioners Adult Education The Sacraments - Fr. Valery’s classes Study of Confession – Fr. Paul Harrilchak Prof. Aristides Papadakis – Iconography Fr. George – on Sundays (Scripture) Bulletins both languages with educational materials E-mail – regularly send educational materials, info about events Facebook – regularly display educational materials, info about events Good Works Discretionary Fund Benevolent Fund Christ House Friendship Place IOCC Prison Ministry Veterans Guild Special educational programs - Metropolitan Kallistos, Sister Vassa, Fr. Robert Taft, Br. Christopher, Br. Stavros, Sr. Rebecca – New Skete

  8. Continuing – building up Cathedral Life Expanding Lay Leadership – Bazaar chair and committees heads Expanding Communication - Newsletter Activities Dormition Guild “R” Club Students and young people School Olympus Veterans’ Guild Social Dormition Guild Post-Slavonic service lunches Coffee Hour Veterans Guild lunches (Memorial Day,Independence Day, Veterans Day) Membership gains – Chrismations and Baptisms

  9. Continuing - Building up Cathedral Life – work in progress Sunday School - teachers for all grades Choir - shared directing duties, director training Publications - icon photo book, Irina’s cookbook Meetups - young Orthodox professionals Newsletter - in progress Life stories of departed parishioners English and Russian classes

  10. What is the Orthodox Church in America? • Fruit of first official Orthodox mission to New World, labor of great missionaries: St. Herman, St. Innocent, St. Tikhon, and many more (1794 - today) • Only self-governed (Autocephalous) Orthodox Church in America (since 1970) – part of the Orthodox family building own identity - Church of the land and people • Governed by Synod of Bishops, All American Councils, Metropolitan Council • OCA and bishops members of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA • Services in 12 languages, but the language of the land – vernacular English - is predominant. • OCA contributes to the Orthodoxy in USA and in the world • St. Tikhon – the oldest Orthodox Monastery in America (1902 – present) • 3 accredited theological schools – St. Herman (Alaska), St. Tikhon (PA), St. Vladimir (NY) • Canonized monk, clergy, layman (Herman, Tikhon, Innocent, Raphael, Alexis, Jacob, Peter) • World renowned theologians (Frs. J. Meyendorff, A. Schmemann, J. Behr, P. Meyendorff) • Liturgical renewal – prayers aloud, participation of the faithful in the Eucharist as a norm • Continuing Liturgical research in monasteries (New Skete), parishes (Holy Trinity, Reston) • Educational materials used by Orthodox jurisdictions and all over the world

  11. Primatial Cathedral for OCA St. Nicholas Cathedral - located in Washington DC - has functioned as OCA Primatial Cathedral since 1978 Provides Metropolitan’s residence and personal support during his visits to DC Festal hierarchical services (Pascha, Nativity) Affords layperson access to Metropolitan Host for visiting Orthodox hierarchs, clergy, laity from all the world OCA enthronement and episcopal ordination host Introductions and communication between Metropolitan and Embassies Coordinates and supports Metropolitan’s participation in major religious forums (i.e., Orientale Lumen) Organizer and host for high profile Orthodox speakers (Metropolitan Kallistos, Sister Vassa, Br. Christopher, Br. Stavros, Sr. Rebecca) with outreach to DC Orthodox faithful Co-organizer for interfaith events with OCA episcopal presence (March for Life, 9/11 Unity Walk) Strong support to revision of OCA Statute for All American Council 2015

  12. Future - Building for tomorrow by working hard today Identifying and developing present, future leadership - Parish Council - talented and caring individuals - now working with Standing Rules Facility maintenance and development - “first of” inspection report - repairs and maintenance to follow Improving financial condition - reserve for operating expenses, financial procedures guide Cathedral campusdevelopment, creation of business plan in progress Planning for future support for Metropolitan in DC

  13. Synopsis • Strategic Direction should be updated regularly as it provides a reference against which to measure ourselves • How are we furthering Orthodoxy in the local community? In America? • How are we meeting our parish goals? • What could/should be improved? • Are our goals right for today? Tomorrow? • How are we developing the next generation of Orthodox clergy and lay leaders? • Are we spawning new Orthodox parishes in this area? • How are we helping to spread the voice of Orthodoxy throughout the world?

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