Myrrh-Bearers Bring Orthodoxy to Rural Virginia

Photo credit: Fr. Gabriel Weller

HARRISONBURG, VA — Living in a rural area does not mean being far from the Orthodox faith. God calls His people everywhere, and the community of the Holy Myrrh-Bearers in Virginia is a living testimony to this truth.

Holy Myrrh-Bearers is a beautiful church crowned with a small golden dome rises amidst the cornfields and sunflowers of the Shenandoah Valley. Fr. Gabriel Weller, rector of the parish, gives thanks to God for the blessing of serving here. “We broke ground five years ago,” he recalls. “Two and a half years ago, on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross during Great Lent, we moved in, and we’ve been working ever since.”

The building today includes not only the church itself, but also a spacious parish hall and other facilities. Some work remains unfinished: a few walls still need painting, and the iconographer is expected to complete the task in the coming months. “We are almost ready for the full consecration, which is scheduled for Memorial Day, May 25, 2026,” Fr. Gabriel explains.

Although the parish relied on contractors for specialized work, much of the construction was carried out by the clergy and faithful themselves. They installed siding, placed windows, and undertook interior work. The rector himself was often seen operating a tractor or doing heavy lifting. I jokingly called him a “village priest,” and he readily agreed. “Yes, I’m a village priest. That’s correct," he laughs through his beard.

“We are part of ROCOR, and we carry the heritage of Russia,” Fr. Gabriel says. “But people here often do not know what the Orthodox Church is. So, we tell them: this is the Christian Church.” Most of the parishioners are ordinary Americans who, feeling lost in Western religious traditions, discovered Orthodoxy as the true faith. “We are drawing in people who truly seek the Church. They have studied, done their research, and are deeply committed to becoming Orthodox,” the rector notes.

The parish has seen remarkable growth. When services began in the current building, attendance was about 35 people. At that time, the church seemed too large. Today, with nearly 100 faithful gathering for the Sunday Divine Liturgy, it sometimes feels small. “Over time, more and more people have come. We baptize new members, the community grows, and we are truly blessed,” Fr. Gabriel says.

Such growth is the fruit of steady pastoral care and missionary effort. The parish organizes inquiry and catechism classes throughout the year, drawing people from far and wide—some even crossing “a couple of mountains,” as the priest jokes, to attend services.

In truth, the faithful of this community do more than simply introduce others to Orthodoxy. Following the example of their heavenly patrons, the Holy Myrrh-Bearers, they bring the myrrh of faith to all those around them. When I share this thought with Fr. Gabriel, he once again smiles into his beard and replied simply: “Thanks to your prayers.”