'The Church Came to Me!'

Visiting those in prison is truly a joy for Orthodox clergy. Photo: OCPM

This article was originally published for syndication by Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM). For more information on OCPM's mission, visit here.

NEW YORK — “It felt like the whole world was there to celebrate. There was no time more joyous.” This is Justin’s childhood memory of Divine Liturgy on Pascha at his home church in Philadelphia. 

But life had many sharp turns for Justin. At 29 years old he committed a serious crime and was sentenced to seven years in prison. His childhood home in the Church had been replaced by lockdowns and line calls. He was in a land so far away from his Christian roots that he would never be found again.

Or so he thought.

All of that changed when OCPM reached out to Fr. George and asked if he’d be willing to visit Justin in prison just 30 minutes from his home. With Fr. George’s simple willingness to go, Justin’s life was completely changed again, only this time not toward darkness and unknowns, but toward the love already familiar to him. 

“When I came to prison, I never dreamed the Church would be here,” says Justin. “But then Fr. George came. I couldn’t believe they found me.’”

Last month, Nicholas Petrogeorge, OCPM Executive Director, got to accompany Fr. George and four other Orthodox volunteers to visit Justin — that’s how he heard about his memories from church growing up. Looking around at the small group of them there together Justin said, “In prison, when you all come to visit me, it feels like Pascha. It feels like the whole Church is here to celebrate.” By God’s grace, in just five people they were able to bring the whole Church to him again.

As we enter the holiday season, we are reminded how the size of our family gatherings doesn’t determine the amount of love we receive from them. You don’t need 100 people around your Thanksgiving table; if you have a few people who really love you, you are completely at home. 

Learn more about how OCPM is bringing Christ to prison this Thanksgiving and how you can get involved at theocpm.org/nativity. If we work together, we can send more Orthodox clergy like Fr. George into prisons next year, all it takes to bring “the whole world” to more people like Justin.

Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) is an agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States. For Orthodox Christians who have been arrested for crimes, OCPM helps them return to the Faith, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with Christ. For both Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, OCPM provides spiritual care, enabling prisoners to find hope and purpose in their lives. For more information, please visit www.theocpm.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theocpm.

For more information, contact Luke Taylor Gilstrap at communications@theocpm.org.

Read also