Welcome
St. John Chrysostom Eastern Orthodox Church is a parish of the Orthodox Church in America. Located in Woodside, New York, with services conducted in English, we are a diverse multi-ethnic community where all are welcomed. We hope to see you soon in our church!
Divine Liturgy is at 10:00am on Sundays, and Vespers is at 5:00pm on Saturday evening.About St. John Woodside
The parish of St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church began in September 1958, formed informally out of necessity to meet the needs of Orthodox families who wished to hear the Divine Services in the principal language of their country and to teach their children the Orthodox Faith.
For the first four years, the parish’s founding priest, Fr. Joseph Kreta, celebrated services in parishioners’ homes, in a rented storefront on Roosevelt Avenue, and in the former church building of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Woodside—made possible through the kindness of their pastor, Rev. Daniel C. Brown.
During this time, the parish undertook a long and difficult search for a permanent location and the funding to purchase property. Because the parish was not yet firmly established, it was initially ineligible for a mortgage. By God’s grace, two bankers from the Maspeth Savings and Loan Association approved a loan, allowing construction to begin on the present site—a generous property extending from 45th Avenue to 44th Avenue and easily visible from Queens Boulevard.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony was held outdoors on May 15, 1960, officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The completed church building was blessed on May 20, 1962, by His Eminence Archbishop Ireney. Over time, adjoining buildings were purchased—one becoming the old church hall, others demolished to create the present parking lot. A home across 69th Street was acquired to serve as the rectory.
In 1980, for the parish’s 25th Anniversary, interior renovations began, including a new iconostasis crafted by Antoine Salounias. In the 1990s, the old rectory was sold, and the proceeds funded the construction of a new three‑story rectory on 44th Avenue. In 1996, a new Altar Table was consecrated by Archbishop Peter of New York and New Jersey.
In 1972, after fourteen years of devoted service, Fr. Joseph Kreta was called to serve the Diocese of Alaska. Fr. Gregory Havrilak, newly graduated from St. Tikhon’s Seminary, was installed as Acting Rector on July 30, 1972, and became Rector in 1975. He served faithfully for twenty years until 1993, when he was appointed Director of Communications at the Chancery in Syosset, NY.
Since then, the parish has been blessed with a succession of dedicated spiritual leaders: Fr. Raymond Courtney, Fr. George Konyev, Fr. Jacob Piruta, Fr. Michael Zahirsky, Fr. Daniel Degyansky, and Acting Rector Fr. Micah Breland, who joined us from St. Innocent of Alaska Mission (Oneonta) in 2026.
