We are living in an unprecedented Orthodox Christian moment in North America. New converts are joining faster than we can ordain priests. Eighteen years ago, Fr Christopher Foley (M.Div. ’06) started with a small group of families; he has since stewarded the parish of Holy Cross in Kernersville, NC through many joys and challenges, culminating in the consecration of the parish’s beautiful new church building on September 21, 2024.
Fr Chris, tell us the story of your community. Take us back to the beginning. How did your time at St Vladimir’s Seminary impact your leadership of a fledgling parish?
Being at the seminary gave me a vision for a proper liturgical life, a vision for beauty, for doing things decently and in order. Jumping into a brand new mission with three people singing in the choir is tough! I remembered those vigils at the seminary and the antiphonal choirs and I really felt like I graduated with a lot of tools in a tool belt, but I realized pretty rapidly that the best way to learn how to be a priest is to just be on the job. It’s all theory at that point. But I felt like my time at St Vladimir’s certainly prepared me, in many ways, for the challenges of a brand new mission.
I graduated in 2006 and was assigned to this new mission that had been organized about a year before. We met in a hotel banquet room for six months, setting up and taking down every week. Very quickly, I started saying, ‘Okay, we’ve got to find a place.’ It’s funny how God doesn’t waste anything—my background in the underground music scene, with its DIY mentality, came in handy. Instead of saying, ‘We could start a rock venue here,’ it was, ‘We could have church here.’ We looked at about 15 different spaces and finally found a Presbyterian church that rented us their old youth hall for $400 a month. We completely renovated this little outbuilding into our first church. Two parishioners even drove up to Ottawa to pick up an iconostasis, which the OCA Cathedral gave us for free. Outside, it was just a concrete block building, but inside, it looked like a beautiful little church.
The Foley family at Pascha: (from left) Jonas, Alexei, Aiden, Evan (seated), Fr Chris, and Mka Carrie; headline photo: Fr Chris, Mka Carrie, and their sons at the new church building, just before the installation of the main cross atop the dome
At the time, there was no all-English Orthodox church in our area of North Carolina. The founding group really had a vision for an English-speaking, outreach-oriented, indigenous North American church. We grew quickly and steadily, applying for the OCA planting grant about two years in. I started working full-time at the church, and we grew quickly, having about 10 to 15 catechumens a year. At one point, we were about 70% converts, with the rest cradle Orthodox, including Russians, Ukrainians, Lebanese, Romanians, Greeks—a nice mix of folks.
People got excited about the vision of Holy Cross and wanted to be part of it. In 2015, we bought some land, started a building committee, and spent the next few years preparing to break ground. After hiring a local builder and architect, we launched a formal capital campaign that went amazingly well—we raised about $1.5 million, way beyond what we expected. Then COVID hit, putting a damper on everything–prices went up, and the church we were renting from folded, so we had to find a new temporary space. We rented a basement from a Methodist church, where we had 100 people downstairs while they had only three or four people upstairs! And miraculously, even in the basement of the Methodist church, new people kept showing up. We launched a secondary mini-capital campaign to raise more funds, signed the loan papers two years ago, and finally moved into our new building this past January.
Holy Cross Orthodox Church, Kernersville, NC
Since then, the growth has been explosive. I have a spreadsheet with 141 names—people inquiring, coming to classes, or emailing. I’ve never had to do that before. Currently, we have around 45 people coming to catechism classes, with 20 on Zoom and 25 in person. Zoom’s been a challenge, but it allows more people to participate. Moving into our own building happened at the perfect time; if we were still in the basement, we’d still be growing, but now we have the space, and it’s just overwhelming. We’re averaging about 150 people on Sundays.
With this growth, we’ve had to get organized. I always set a theme for the year, and this year’s was hospitality. Now we have committees for young adults, youth, sisterhood, a men’s group, and more. With a new building, we added a building and grounds committee, and a kitchen volunteer team, all of which takes a lot of organizing. People have stepped up, and one of the best questions I’ve heard was, ‘Father, what are the things you do during the week that somebody could take off your plate?’ As a mission priest used to wearing 42 different hats, I’m learning to delegate. Some things are hard to let go of, but I’m learning to trust others. It’s an exciting time for us.
The Holy Cross parish photo after the consecration of the new church building
At our consecration, Bishop Gerasim (OCA Diocese of the South) presided, along with 18 priests, five deacons, and about 300 people—it was just such a joyous time after everything we’d been through. Rarely do you have a moment where you can step back and just look and see the work that God has done in such a tangible way, because we've been through a lot. I mean, it was very difficult when we were going through the building stuff. We had interpersonal struggles and some people left the parish. It was hard. There were tempting times when I thought, “Man, I don't know if I'm the person for this job.”
How has prayer been a part of this building process?
We bought our property 11 years ago and started praying on it probably 10 years ago. Every Friday, we’d serve a short molieben on the land, just praying. We wanted God to bless our efforts and bring unity to the process. We had a faithful group of about 10 or 12 who would stand out there, even in 15-degree weather.
Praying the molieben at one of the final “prayers on the property,” Fall 2023
Prayer was essential through it all. I remember telling this story at the banquet: once, when things were really tough, I just fell flat on my face before the Holy Table, crying, ‘Lord, make a way.’ I didn’t see a way, but now, seeing everyone gathered and committed, I know it’s not just a building. The building is an icon of us as the living stones, being built up into God’s temple. It reflects the work we’ve all done in prayer, repentance, and reconciliation.
As we’ve grown, the sacramental life has stayed central—everything flows from the Holy Table. Even with our new focus on hospitality and small groups, I’ve told each group leader to ensure their work supports our liturgical life. We’re not creating small groups for their own sake but strengthening our shared vision for a sacramental, prayer-centered community.
Fr Chris at the Holy Table on the day of his ordination to the priesthood, Jan. 22, 2006, Three Hierarchs Chapel
Father, I see so much of the seminary experience in your story—the focus on prayer, sacramental life, and the challenge of bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, I recently spoke with someone who questioned the need for the traditional model of community life at seminary, saying students could just take classes online instead of spending three years out of their comfort zone. Could you speak to this?
I’d say we absolutely need that in-person experience. You can’t get it through Zoom. The intensity of living with people for three years in an intentional community teaches you a lot about relationships—there is so much from that experience of community life that I still draw from. Many of those relationships last to this day. I have friends from seminary I still talk to daily. One of my dearest friends, Fr Justin and Matushka Jodi Matthews (M.Div. ’07) came to our consecration, and I just went out to Kansas City for an event he had at Reconciliation Services for the opening of their new building and chapel. Our wives are also dear friends; they have their own group that texts daily and meets once a year for a week-long get-together. Those seminary connections have been foundational for my wife and I.
Fr Chris and Mka Carrie standing in the new church on the day of its consecration with their dear seminary friends, Fr Justin and Mka Jodie Mathews
Liturgical life at seminary was also central. The chapel was where we went to reset and remember what this is all about. I chose St Vladimir’s Seminary because Fr Alexander Schmemann is a spiritual father to me, even though I never met him in person. Fr Alexander’s vision for the sacramental life reminds us that worship is our actual and tangible participation in Christ, not just something aesthetically pleasing. “How we believe is how we worship, and how we worship is what we believe.” Seeing that vision lived out over those three years at seminary gave me a clear sense for parish life: if people are drawn to Orthodoxy and the beauty of our services, then we must do it well; it has to be beautiful. Early on, I put a lot of emphasis on getting our choir in shape and making sure our services were done beautifully and in good order—not chaotic. All of that came from my seminary experience.
And then there were the pastoral theology classes with Fr Paul Lazor. He’s like my inner guide—‘What would Fr Paul do?’ I think of the stories he shared from his experience in parish life, which were invaluable. During those early years as a young, green, convert priest, when I encountered difficult pastoral situations and had no idea what to do, I’d think back to his advice and remember his stories. I still constantly draw from all that.
Fr Paul Lazor tells seminary children the story of St Nicholas in December 2004; Mka Carrie is standing in the back left of the photo.
You mentioned Fr Schmemann; it’s fascinating how his approach to life left such a lasting mark. His influence is still so present at the seminary, almost like the Holy Spirit is keeping his vision of the sacramental life intact through all the changes.
The parish experience you describe reflects what St Vladimir’s brought to the table—this focus on being sacramental, active in the community, all-English, and with a deep beauty in worship. Thinking ahead, Father, as our culture becomes less religious and priests are managing larger parishes, what kinds of challenges and opportunities do you see? Do we need more priests?
We’re at a point where many parishes need to consider expanding—having more than one priest or other church-supported employees, whether they’re priests or educated laypeople who can share the load. For a long time, the focus was on starting missions, but now since I serve on the OCA Metropolitan Council, we’re noticing that not as many parishes are applying for the mission planting grant. It’s not that missions aren’t starting; it’s that maybe the model is shifting, with parishes now taking on the responsibility for starting new missions themselves. One possibility I’ve considered are parish development grants that help support parishes—like ours—to hire a second priest or part-time admin so the priest and volunteers don’t burn out.
Fr Chris surveys the new nave with one of the founding members of the Holy Cross mission, Pdn George Hattle
We need to think about moving parishes from one stage to the next. In our diocese, Archbishop Dmitri of blessed memory would say that once a parish reaches about 300 people, it’s time to start a new mission. We don’t want parishes to grow so large that they shift from a family model to a corporate model—it’s just a different experience. I think the family model is so needed now, with community breaking down and people feeling isolated. So many in our parish tell me, “This is my place of sanity, where I go to be spiritually fed and find community.”
This connects to something else I see happening as our culture grows more divided and online. We think we’re connected, but we’re more disconnected than ever, and I think we’re already seeing a backlash. People are seeking real community, and I think our parishes must stay focused on being places of connection and hospitality. People don’t want to feel like outsiders, and they’re looking for connectedness, authenticity, and deeper faith—something beyond the surface, something they can build their lives on.
As your parish grows, do you see any parishioners you’d recommend for seminary in the future?
Yes, Matushka and I have been encouraging a family from our parish to consider going to seminary. We met with him and his wife about a year ago, and he’s considering it seriously. I’m certainly recommending St Vladimir’s for many reasons. He and his wife are a stable, young family with two kids and are probably in their early 30s—the perfect age.
Going to seminary surely was a sacrifice for you, and that’s something we try to emphasize in our outreach. For people with a comfortable job and home, like this family, how do you encourage them to take that step and uproot for three years?
When we met the first time to discuss it, it was a bit overwhelming. I’d mentioned seminary in passing, and when we sat down, they were like deer in headlights—not opposed, but thinking, “We have a house, a job... but it sounds great.” They’re handling it wisely, waiting a few years to pay down debt and considering what to do with their house. They’ve asked tons of questions, and we discussed some of the financial questions that arise. Matushka and I looked back, thinking, “How did we live on such a small income during those years at seminary?”
I remember our first week at seminary when we were still covering our mortgage back home. On the first Saturday, an envelope with exactly $729—our mortgage payment—was left under our door. To this day, we don’t know who did it, but we saw it as confirmation that we were where we needed to be.
Family time in their seminary apartment
Navigating the Yonkers city schools’ special needs department was another challenge. Our oldest son has special needs and is non-verbal. When we came to seminary, he was four and not yet walking. If it weren’t for Fr Sudick, a retired local priest who sat on the school board, we might not have gotten the support we needed. Within a week of speaking with him, our son had a one-to-one aide.
Stories like that encourage this couple, and it highlights the value of in-person seminary. People ask why they can’t just do it online and keep their lives intact, and it’s a valid point. I think seminaries will need to keep strongly advocating for the in-person experience because it will only get harder to justify the sacrifice.
It’s still true that seminarians sacrifice so much and change their lives completely in order to follow their vocation to serve the Church. As someone who went through that, what would you say to those considering supporting St Vladimir’s and its seminarians?
Seminary was so foundational for me—we wouldn’t have done it any differently. The experience of the chapel, classes, relationships, and navigating all the difficulties was invaluable. We used to joke they made it harder on purpose, like boot camp. Some weeks, you’re thinking, “How am I going to finish all these papers, tests, vespers, matins, hospital hours, and community service, and spend time with my family?” But you do it, and you learn. You learn time management and how to prioritize, which is vital in parish life. By my third year, I knew I had to say no to some things—even if it meant missing matins or getting a few B’s—so I could have breakfast with my family. That balance was a valuable tool.
I believe this in-person seminary experience is essential for raising up clergy and lay leaders in the Church. I just don’t see how it can be done without that immersive, residential experience.
Fr Chris and Mka Carrie watch as the cross is lifted onto the dome of the new Holy Cross Orthodox Church, November 2023
The parish Fr Chris leads, Holy Cross Orthodox Church, has the unique distinction of being home to two current St Vladimir’s Seminary trustees, Dr Ana Iltis and Genevieve Lyday, J.D. We asked each of them to share their thoughts in response to the following questions:
In observing the work Fr Chris has done over the years since you joined the Church and became a member, how would you say he drew on his seminary training to serve the Holy Cross parish?
Is the growth of the parish and the influx of new converts related to your decision to become a trustee at St Vladimir's Seminary?
Genevieve Lyday, J.D.:
Fr Chris has a heart for searching souls who are deconstructing their faith or lack thereof. He is welcoming, patient, compassionate, and understanding, and, as a result, he is able to shepherd many such individuals to Christ and the Orthodox Church. I know Father Chris was passionate about missions before he attended St Vladimir's Seminary, but his seminary training undoubtedly contributed greatly to his ability to guide new inquirers and catechumens so deftly.
Yes! The growth of our parish is a testament to the fact that more and more people are flocking to the Orthodox Church. This influx of new converts makes the incredible need for additional clergy and seminary-trained lay people even more dire. I became a trustee at St Vladimir's Seminary so that I could use my experience and legal skills to assist the Seminary in its core mission to equip men and women to serve the Church.
Dr Ana Iltis:
I really learned about St Vladimir’s through Fr Chris. I knew that the Seminary existed as a school and press, but I first came to appreciate the seminary through him. The seminary shines through Fr Chris in so many ways, and he has always shared his deep love for St Vladimir's with his parishioners.
His homilies, inquirer classes, and catechumen classes are deeply informed and edifying. He often refers to what he learned in seminary, and he clearly draws on his education regularly, allowing us to benefit from that education.
At a more personal level, the deep friendships that he and Matushka Carrie formed during their time at St Vladimir's have been vital as they have sought advice and support as our community grew.
I see tremendous value in what the seminary provides for future priests and their families as well as lay people who are studying at the seminary and who will serve the Church in many different ways. Being a Trustee is a privilege - it allows me to be part of that work.
