Diocese Establishes New Orthodox Mission in Ogden, Utah

San Francisco, California – On the feast of the Holy Enlightener and Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir, His Grace Bishop Vasily established the Nativity of Christ Mission. The new mission is scheduled to begin holding divine services in or near Ogden, Utah, in September 2026. His Grace signed the decree after receiving Holy Communion during the Divine Liturgy at the diocesan cathedral dedicated to the Holy Trinity.  In establishing this mission, His Grace indicated that it is his prayer that the new community be an explicitly missionary effort, meant to add more laborers to the important field of the Greater Salt Lake City area and to welcome those seeking the Orthodox Christian faith.

The formal establishment is a significant milestone in a process initiated by His Grace with the unanimous support of the Diocesan Council in October 2025 to explore planting a mission in the Greater Salt Lake City area. The Missions Board formed a task force, chaired by district dean Archpriest Andreas Blom and missions director Priest Peter Runyon, dedicated to this effort. In forming this task force, His Grace noted that “it is central and essential to our character that we are a…