Our parish, Saint Luke Serbian Orthodox Church, was founded in 1961 as a parish of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Chapel of the American University in Washington on March 16, 1961. Following the arrival of our priest, Father Milorad Milosevich, in August 1962, Liturgy was celebrated weekly at the Washington National Cathedral in the Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea, and later in the Resurrection Chapel.
In November 1971, a five-acre plot of land was purchased at the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Douglass Drive in McLean, Virginia. Many hours of hard work by dedicated volunteers transformed the property into an eye-catching wooded park. The construction of the church-hall complex began in 1976, and was completed and dedicated in October 1977.
In March 1981, a resolution was passed that our parish apply for membership in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). The parish was received into the OCA later that same year.
Today our parish is widespread geographically, partly transient, and includes members from a wide range of backgrounds, including a growing number of converts to Orthodoxy. We continue to grow, both numerically and spiritually, through an ongoing list of activities.
Sunday Divine Liturgy is followed by a coffee hour in our social hall. In addition to special Feast Day services, Vespers are held on the first Saturday of each month. Education includes Church School classes after Liturgy as well as a weekly adult Christian study group on Wednesday evenings via Zoom .
The Prayer Group prays daily for needs submitted to them by parishioners and others who desire spiritual support.The St. Luke Choir sings responses at liturgical services.The St. Luke Sisterhood serves the parish and the community spiritually and through good works. The Faith in Action (FIA) Committee takes our parish even further into the surrounding community. Parish publications include a weekly Sunday bulletin.
We are in the process of building a beautiful, classic looking Orthodox Church on our property -- and God willing we will be able to serve in it by Nativity (Jan. 7, 2024) -- at which time we would then convert our current chapel into an Orthodox Education Center for our growing number of children and for our various ministries.
For more information please visit our Parish Ministries page.