The first volume of A.V. Molodin’s trilogy “Orthodox Domes of America” is devoted to the history of 30 Orthodox parishes on the North American continent belonging to the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, the Orthodox Church in America and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
The book includes numerous photographs by the author and historical illustrations, and readers can take a virtual tour of the churches in the free Lexavision app by scanning the special QR codes provided with every article in the book.
Each article in the book has a parallel English translation. Click here to purchase the book.
***
The history of the parishes is preceded by a greeting from Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada:
To A.V. MOLODIN, President of the Heritage Foundation and member of the Committee for the Preservation of Russian Cultural and Historical Heritage of the Congress of Compatriots in the USA
Dear Alexander Vladimirovich!
I have read with great interest your monograph devoted to the preservation of the spiritual and cultural heritage of Russian Orthodoxy in the United States of America, embodied in historical and architectural monuments.
It is gratifying to note that this subject continues to arouse lively interest today not only among Orthodox compatriots, but is also becoming increasingly popular among those who are only beginning to discover the distinctive and unique heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church. Being the same age as the statehood of the USA, Russian Orthodoxy on the North American continent, through the labors of its missionaries, made a significant contribution to shaping many aspects of the life of the peoples of America, and hospitably opened its arms to Orthodox coreligionists from many different countries for whom the USA became a second homeland.
Having passed through all the trials of the 20th century together with its flock, the Russian Orthodox Church preserved its spiritual heritage in North America, which today is carefully kept and multiplied in the parishes and monasteries of the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America, in the Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA and in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
I express my sincere thanks and deep gratitude to you for giving special attention in your study to the history and architectural features of selected churches of all the above jurisdictions, for whose clergy and laity 2020 was marked by many jubilees and memorable events — the 225th anniversary of the beginning of the mission of St. Herman of Alaska, the 50th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America and of the formation of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, and the 100th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
I invoke God’s blessing upon you and all who labored on the publication of the book “Orthodox Domes of America,” and prayerfully wish that this work may serve its readers as a fascinating guide to the wondrous and beautiful world of Russian Orthodoxy in North America.
+MATTHEW, Bishop of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada
