Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church was founded in Rochester, New York on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women (May 17) in 1964. That year, a group of Orthodox faithful joined together with the desire to establish an Orthodox parish where the Divine Services would be conducted entirely in the English language. Faithfully enduring many difficulties and overcoming obstacles, the parish grew and found a home at its current location—a truly inviting and lovely place of worship, centrally located and easily accessible from the entire greater Rochester area. The parish has become an icon of Orthodox unity, where people from diverse ethnic heritages and cultural roots gather together as the “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.”

Parishioners represent a wide diversity of backgrounds — “cradle-born” Orthodox, converts from a multitude of religious traditions, and those seeking Christ and His Church. Many faithful have been added to the Body of Christ through the faithful witness of St. John's parish, and for this great blessing and joy we offer thanks to God. At St. John's, we celebrate the uniquely precious gift that each woman, man, and child is within our family of faith. We strive to be a community of love: for God and for one another. By the grace of God, we work to faithfully be “the Church” in the midst of our unworthiness. We know that we are sinners. We know, also, that our parish is the haven of those who repent and the salvation of those who contritely seek God's forgiveness. God has been merciful, gracious and good to us, for in this holy house, we have seen the True Light!

In this holy house, the fullness of the Orthodox Faith is opened to us. We hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will lead others into the fullness of Christ and His Holy Church through an encounter with Orthodoxy at Saint John's parish. We welcome all—Orthodox Christians and seekers—to journey with us. If you live in the Rochester area or plan a visit to upstate New York, please join us for worship!