Welcome!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for visiting the website of our local mission, the Jamaican Orthodox Mission (JOM). We hope that your exploration of our website will acquaint you with the faith, cultural heritage, and rich history of our community.

THE JAMAICAN ORTHODOX MISSION

The Jamaican Orthodox Mission (JOM) represents a significant and relatively recent chapter in the history of Orthodox Christianity in the Caribbean. It stands as a testament to individual spiritual conviction, cross-cultural ecclesiastical ties, and the global reach of Eastern Orthodoxy. Unique in its founding, the mission is a vibrant outpost of a traditionally Eastern European and Middle Eastern faith, rooted in the personal conversion of a Jamaican man and flourishing through the establishment of formal parishes on the island. Its canonical standing and administrative structure firmly place it within the wider Eastern Orthodox communion, under the spiritual and hierarchical authority of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), which is itself part of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Hierarchical and Jurisdictional Framework

At its core, the Jamaican Orthodox Mission (JOM) operates under a specific and well-defined ecclesiastical jurisdiction. It is a canonical mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), a semi-autonomous branch of the Russian Orthodox Church in full communion with the Moscow Patriarchate (MP). This affiliation is not merely a formality; it dictates the mission’s administrative allegiance, liturgical practices (which follow the Slavic-Byzantine Rite), and its ultimate spiritual authority.

The mission exists under the direct omophorion (meaning "shoulder" or "covering," referring to the pastoral and hierarchical protection) of His Grace LUKE, the Bishop of Syracuse. Bishop Luke serves as a Vicar, or auxiliary bishop, of the Eastern American Diocese of ROCOR. This connection to the Eastern American Diocese is crucial, as it links the fledgling mission in Jamaica to a larger, established network of parishes and administrative infrastructure in North America. This relationship ensures that the Jamaican Mission, despite its geographical distance, receives proper guidance, canonical oversight, and a direct line of communication to the broader Orthodox world. The Bishop's oversight guarantees that the mission adheres to Orthodox tradition and is not left isolated or without hierarchical support.

The Foundational Vision of Fr. Constantine

The genesis of the Orthodox Mission in Jamaica is not the result of a long-standing historical Orthodox presence, but rather a more contemporary and deeply personal narrative. Its establishment was a direct response to the spiritual journey of a native Jamaican man, Marlon Myers. Mr. Myers was originally a member of a prominent Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination known as The Church of God of Prophecy, a church with a significant historical and cultural footprint in Jamaica. His background in this vibrant, charismatic tradition adds a fascinating layer to his eventual conversion to Orthodox Christianity, representing a major theological and liturgical shift from a modern, Protestant denomination to the ancient, sacramental, and ritualistic traditions of the Orthodox faith.

Marlon Myers’ conversion to Orthodox Christianity occurred in March 2014. This pivotal event marked not just a personal change in religious affiliation, but the spiritual seed from which the entire Jamaican Orthodox Mission would grow. His subsequent journey into the Orthodox faith deepened significantly, culminating in his being tonsured as a monk—a profound commitment to a life of prayer, asceticism, and service—and his ordination to the priesthood. Today, he is no longer known as Marlon Myers but as Father Constantine, a name often chosen by his bishop to signify a new life in Christ. As the founder and primary clergyman, Fr. Constantine embodies the mission's unique character: it is a mission built by a Jamaican, for Jamaicans, yet seamlessly connected to the ancient, global traditions of the Orthodox Church.

The Foundation of St. Timothy the Apostle Orthodox Church

With its spiritual founder now ordained as a priest, the mission began to take concrete, physical form. The first major milestone was the formal establishment of a local parish dedicated to Saint Timothy the Apostle. The name "St. Timothy" is fitting, as Timothy was a companion of the Apostle Paul and was responsible for shepherding and organizing early Christian communities, paralleling the work of Fr. Constantine in establishing the Orthodox Church in Jamaica.

The community, officially designated as the Southern Orthodox Community, was formally established on July 7, 2017, in the town of Runaway Bay, situated in the parish of St. Ann. Runaway Bay is a historic location on Jamaica's north coast, and its choice as the mission's initial home grounded the new church in a specific Jamaican community. However, the mission’s early history is also marked by mobility. At a later, unspecified date, the parish was relocated to Kingston, Jamaica's capital and largest city. This move was likely strategic, intended to place the mission at the heart of the country's population and administrative center, thereby increasing visibility, accessibility, and growth potential within a more densely populated urban environment.

The Expansion to St. Moses the Black Orthodox Church

Building on the success and momentum of the first parish, the mission expanded to serve a second community. This second parish was dedicated to a figure of immense significance, especially within the context of African and Caribbean Orthodoxy: Saint Moses the Black, also known as St. Moses the Ethiopian. Moses was a former slave and bandit who repented and became a Desert Father, a monk of great spiritual wisdom and humility. His story of dramatic conversion, from a life of sin to one of profound holiness, resonates deeply with themes of redemption and transformation. By choosing St. Moses as a patron, the mission highlights the universality of the Orthodox faith and its embrace of all peoples and cultures, explicitly connecting the ancient church to the African diaspora.

The initiation of this "Northern Orthodox Community" occurred on August 9, 2019, in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, not far from the mission’s original location. The formal establishment of the parish, however, took place shortly after, on October 9, 2019, in the town of Falmouth, located in the parish of Trelawny. Falmouth is a historic Georgian town on the north coast, and this relocation further cemented the mission's presence in the region. The creation of St. Moses the Black Orthodox Church signified that the Orthodox presence in Jamaica was not a fleeting phenomenon but a growing movement with the potential to establish multiple communities across the island.

Mission Statement 

The mission of the Orthodox Church in Jamaica is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, to teach and spread the Orthodox Christian Faith, and to energize, cultivate, and guide the life of the Church in Jamaica in accordance with Orthodox Christian Faith and Tradition.

The Jamaican Orthodox Mission sanctifies the faithful through divine worship, especially the Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments. It seeks to build the spiritual and ethical life of the faithful in accordance with Holy Scripture, Sacred Tradition, the doctrines and canons of the Ecumenical and Local Councils, the canons of the Holy Apostles and the Fathers of the Church, and all other Councils recognized by the Orthodox Church.

The Mission serves as a beacon, carrier, and witness of Christ's message to all persons living in Jamaica. This it does through divine worship, preaching, teaching, and the living out of the Orthodox Christian Faith.

Conclusion

In summary, the Jamaican Orthodox Mission is a dynamic and growing ecclesiastical entity that beautifully synthesizes the ancient traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church with a modern, Caribbean identity. Founded on the personal conversion of Fr. Constantine, a Jamaican monk-priest, it operates under the canonical auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and the pastoral care of Bishop Luke of Syracuse. Within just a few years, the mission has grown from a single convert to two established parishes: St. Timothy the Apostle in Kingston and St. Moses the Black in Falmouth. This rapid development points to fertile ground for Orthodox Christianity in Jamaica, offering a unique blend of liturgical richness and theological depth to a population more familiar with Protestant traditions.

COME AND SEE

Come and learn more about the historical Christian Church—the Orthodox Christian Faith, that "pearl of great price."

For those interested in learning more, participating in services, or supporting its work, the mission can be contacted directly by telephone at 1-876-890-6455.

Explore our website to discover more about our Orthodox communities here in Jamaica. We hope you find the information both interesting and helpful.

Thank you for your interest. May the blessing of the Lord be with you.