Mass Baptism at Carpatho-Russian church in North Carolina (+VIDEO)

Hendersonville, North Carolina, October 6, 2026

Photo: Saint Anthony the Great Orthodox Mission Photo: Saint Anthony the Great Orthodox Mission     

A joyous celebration was held at one parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese this weekend, as more than a dozen people were baptized into Christ.

“Today we joyfully welcomed 13 catechumens into the Orthodox Church through Holy Baptism and Chrismation. May God grant our newly illumined brothers and sisters many years!” writes Saint Anthony the Great Orthodox Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Photo: Saint Anthony the Great Orthodox Mission Photo: Saint Anthony the Great Orthodox Mission     

The Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation were celebrated by parish rector Fr. Photios Parks.

St. Anthony the Great Church has been serving the Hendersonville community since 2019, founded with the blessing of Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa, primate of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese under the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The parish has steadily grown since its foundation, and in July, it moved into a new location.

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Fr. Photios spoke with OrthoChristian about his parish in January of this year.

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10/6/2026

See also
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A surge of Orthodox Christian missions across the American Southwest in the last several years has prompted the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) to establish a new deanery serving Arizona and New Mexico. Baptisms and new catechumens at parishes across the U.S. Baptisms and new catechumens at parishes across the U.S. Baptisms and new catechumens at parishes across the U.S. Baptisms and new catechumens at parishes across the U.S.
Following the thousands of Baptisms celebrated at parishes across America during Holy Week, many parishes have also been reporting mass Baptisms celebrated on the feast of Pentecost. 1,100+ catechumens in one diocese of one jurisdiction—Orthodoxy’s explosion in America 1,100+ catechumens in one diocese of one jurisdiction—Orthodoxy’s explosion in America 1,100+ catechumens in one diocese of one jurisdiction—Orthodoxy’s explosion in America 1,100+ catechumens in one diocese of one jurisdiction—Orthodoxy’s explosion in America
As has been widely reported in both Orthodox and secular media in recent years, Orthodoxy is experiencing amazing growth in America and other diaspora countries.

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