Cleveland, June 3, 2026
Photo: Saint Anastasia Fellowship
Two Orthodox Christian organizations have joined forces to offer spiritual support to people and families affected by addiction in Northeast Ohio.
The St. Anastasia Fellowship (SAF), a ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan District, is partnering with FOCUS North America to bring a new recovery initiative to Cleveland. SAF takes an Orthodox Christian approach to addiction recovery, combining clinical practices with Scripture, Church Tradition, and the writings of the Church Fathers. The Fellowship provides education, outreach, intercessory prayer, and peer support to individuals and families. FOCUS North America is a ministry affiliated with the Assembly of Bishops that serves the poor across the country through thirteen centers. FOCUS Cleveland provides emergency and transitional shelter, hot meals, clothing, and other services to homeless men and the broader community.
The collaboration centers on a recurring Paraklesis service combined with the Sacrament of Holy Unction, reports Orthodox Observer.
The service is held in honor of St. Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions, a saint historically revered as a protector of those suffering from affliction, and takes place at the chapel of St. Herman at FOCUS Cleveland. Attendees have loved ones’ names read aloud during the service and receive Holy Unction for the healing of soul and body.
Cleveland has been hit hard by the opioid crisis, straining families across the region. Kirk Ries, Center Director of FOCUS Cleveland, said the partnership addresses a real need among the people the center serves. “Many of our residents are in active recovery. Offering spiritual support as part of their journey is vitally important,” he said. “Partnering with SAF to offer the intercessions of St. Anastasia for our residents, staff and community is a beautiful way to bring hope and healing to those struggling with addiction.”
Fr. Anastasios, who celebrates the service, described prayer as the essential starting point. “Healing is difficult; we can only start with prayer. May St. Anastasia intercede for all of us.”
The current prayer services represent the first phase of SAF’s presence at FOCUS Cleveland. A second phase—a peer-based support group to complement the spiritual programming—is under consideration for the future.
Steven Christoforou, Executive Director of FOCUS North America and a member of the SAF Advisory Committee, expressed hope that the model could expand.
OrthoChristian previously reported on the opening of a FOCUS pregnancy resource center in Houston and on the organization’s ongoing distribution of backpacks and school supplies to children from low-income communities.
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