Thirteen Baptized at Growing Orthodox Mission in Puerto Rico
Thirteen baptisms on the eve of Pentecost highlighted the continued growth of an Orthodox mission in Puerto Rico preparing to build a permanent church.
SAN GERMÁN, PUERTO RICO — Thirteen people were received into the Orthodox Church through Holy Baptism at Misión Ortodoxa San Juan Clímaco on May 29, the eve of the feast of Holy Pentecost, marking a significant moment in the growth of the island’s Orthodox community.
The sacrament was celebrated by Archpriest Gregorio Justiniano, rector of the mission, together with his son, Hieromonk Daniel Justiniano. The baptisms took place at a parish that traces its origins to 2009, when a small group of native Puerto Ricans returned home after encountering Orthodoxy while living in the continental United States.
What began as a tiny community centered around Fr. Gregorio and his family grew gradually over the years. The mission initially worshipped in a modest house chapel, but continued growth, particularly among younger converts, eventually pushed the facility beyond its capacity.
That expansion has fueled plans for a permanent church. In 2020, land in San Germán was donated for the construction of what organizers say will be the first architecturally Orthodox temple on the island. Over the past year, parishioners have worked to complete plans for a church dedicated to the Annunciation, designed in the Pskov style of Russian architecture and inspired by the Dormition chapel at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.
According to the mission, an anonymous donation and other contributions have provided sufficient funding to begin construction. Additional support will be needed, however, to complete the project as the parish continues to grow. Donations to the project can be made here.
Previously, the UOJ reported that a New York woman was received into the Orthodox Church on her 100th birthday.
