…is a mission parish of ROCOR (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) and was founded to serve and worship the Lord Jesus Christ and bring the healing Sacraments of the faith to both Russian and English-speaking Orthodox Christians.

In August of 2018 Fr. Theodore Obraztsov was ordained by His Eminence, Met. Hilarion, First Hierarch of ROCOR (reposed 2022) and assigned as presiding priest of the mission in Stanwood Washington. The mission was originally created as a Western Rite parish of ROCOR. Following Fr. Theodore’s assignment he began studying and learning the Eastern Rites under the supervision of local Antiochian priest Fr. David Hovik (St. Andrew OC, Arlington WA) and ROCOR archpriest Alex Kotar (St. Nicholas Cathedral, Seattle WA).

After the repose of Met. Hilarion a Synod gathered in New York (2022) in which a new primate of ROCOR was elected; His Eminence, Archbishop Nicholas. At this sobor Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America and Bishop Theodosy (rector of the Seattle Cathedral) requested that the Stanwood mission come under the Western Diocese of America. This was granted and later that year (December 19th) at the 90 year celebration of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle, Archbishop Kyrill generously granted that the mission be renamed St. Elizabeth of Russia Orthodox Church.

Every day is very exciting for the mission. It has always been the intention for the Church to be established in Skagit County. Recently movement in this direction has begun. The mission hopes to relocate somewhere around Mt. Vernon and Burlington Washington, but at this time a particular date is unknown. Please see the address on the home page if you are interested in visiting the mission; or visit the “Donations” page if you wish to contribute to our mission and its anticipated move to Skagit County.

St Elizabeth Orthodox Mission sometimes meets with our beloved Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Seattle.