St. Joseph's Orthodox Parish

We are a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia forming in the Sarasota, Florida area.

We are a “Western Rite Orthodox” parish; which means that if you are visiting from a Roman Catholic or Protestant Christian church, you’ll find something that you’ll be familiar with. The fact that we are a Russian Orthodox Church doesn’t mean that you have to be of Russian descent or even speak Russian. Our worship is in English and we have people from all walks of life who come together and worship in the way that the ancient undivided Church has worshiped to this modern day.

The Orthodox Church is the Church that was established on the day of Pentecost in 33AD. We have kept watch over and delivered the same Gospel message that was first delivered by the Apostles. That message is just as true and as poignant as it was back then… Salvation had come come to the world! Today, the Orthodox Church has continued to deliver in constancy and without change that which was first delivered to the Apostles. Come and embrace the “fullness of the Christian Faith” and journey with us.

The holy and righteous Joseph the Betrothed, also referred to as Joseph of Nazareth, was the foster-father of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament (Matthew 1:16; Luke 3:23). Not much is known of Joseph except that he was "of the House of David" and lived in the town of Nazareth. His date of death is unknown, though he was still living when Jesus was 12 years old.

He was betrothed to the Virgin Mary at the time that Mary conceived Jesus. Luke says that he lived at Nazareth in Galilee (Luke 2:4); however, according to Matthew, it was only after the return from Egypt that he settled in Nazareth (Matthew 2:23). He is called a "just man". He was by trade a carpenter (Matthew 13:55). He is last mentioned in connection with the journey to Jerusalem, when Jesus was twelve years old. It is probable that Joseph died before Jesus entered on his public ministry because only Mary was present at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, and he is not described at the crucifixion along with Mary (John 19:25). In addition, St. Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body of Jesus, a duty that would have fallen to St. Joseph had he been alive.