Organizations, Groups, & Clubs
St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral has a vibrant network of parish organizations supporting the spiritual, cultural, and community aspects of life in the parish. Groups dedicated to arts and music enrich the parish community with dance, folk music performances, and the annual Iconography workshop, drawing participants from around the world.
The various liturgical ministries include participating in worship as altar servers, readers, and singers in the choir, inviting the faithful to more fully participate in the liturgical life of the parish, collectively bringing beauty, order, and reverence to the Church’s worship and deepen the congregation’s shared experience of prayer.
Beyond the services, organizations focused on community, outreach, parish life, and youth and young adult ministries foster connection, service, and growth in Christ. From fellowship events and charitable initiatives to educational programs and social gatherings, these ministries create opportunities for all ages to belong, serve others, and strengthen their faith.
These diverse organizations at the Cathedral become not just reasons to gather in fellowship, but to enrich the parish as a thriving spiritual home for the entire community and the surrounding Twin Cities communities.
Community
Art-A-Whirl
St. Mary's Cathedral participants in this local event sponsored and organized by the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA), along with
joins over 1,600 local artists, galleries, and businesses in the area surrounding the cathedral.
For more information,
visit the Art-a-Whirl page.
Contact: Marilyn Johnson
Grief Support Group
The loss of a friend or family member through death is a traumatic experience not to be experienced alone.
In response to the needs of Cathedral parishioners and friends - members of other Orthodox Churches in the Twin Cities are welcome to attend - the Living with Grief group meets on a monthly basis to listen and support one another.
Contact: Joni Snidarich
Metropolitan Leonty Annual Lecture
The Metropolitan Leonty Spirituality Series is an annual presentation by a noted speaker on topics related to Orthodox spirituality.
The event is named in honor of the ever-memorable and much loved Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich), who was rector of St Mary’s Cathedral (1906–1912) and later was elected Bishop of Chicago (1933–1950) and ruling Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America (1950–1965) until his repose.
Past speakers include Archpriest John Behr, Dr. Eugenia Constantinou, Archpriest Alexander Rentel and Ms. Joy Corey.
Contact: St. Mary's Office
The Olive Shoot Gift Shop
The Olive Shoot Cathedral Shop and Bookstore is located in the lower level of the Cathedral's Parish Center and is open Sunday mornings 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon from September through May, and by appointment.
Grow in the Orthodox faith and choose from our selection of quality Orthodox icons, books, crosses, home altar supplies, children's books, and more!
Special orders can be accommodated with enough lead time.
Visit the Olive Shoot page to learn more and to place an order for pick-up.
Contact: Rebecca Becker
Perohi Group
Twice each month, a group of parishioners gather at St. Mary's Parish Center to make perohi, those delicious filled dumplings sold as a fundraiser for the Cathedral.
The schedule of work sessions is included on the Cathedral's event calendar and are generally two to three hours long with a treat and social hour.
Whether you like to pinch or boil these tasty delights, there's always a place for one more to join the laughs and fellowship while making another batch, no experience needed.
Contact: Joe Snyder or Janice Strauss
Prison Ministry
Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) of Minnesota is a pan-Orthodox ministry that conducts scriptural studies, fellowship meetings, and liturgical services for prisoners at the MCF-Lino Lakes and MCF-Shakopee.
Bible studies are held weekly on Mondays at MCF-Lino Lakes, 7-8:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays at MCF-Shakopee, 6:30-9: p.m. Typica services are held on Sunday mornings on months with a fifth Sunday.
To learn more about OCPM, visit: ocpm-mn.org
Contact: Dn. Philip Wagner
Project Mexico
St. Mary's Cathedral is honored to support the St. Innocent Orphange in Rosarito, Mexico by organizing mission trips to build homes and support the program with prayers and charitable donations.
Contact: Dn. Philip Wagner
Seniors Activities
If you're over 65, join these active members of St. Mary's for a variety of social, fellowship, spiritual, and service projects throughout the year.
Whether gathering for coffee after Liturgy or helping maintain the facilities, our seniors are active and a great group of people.
Contact: St. Mary's Office
St. Alexis Toth Lecture
Each year, St. Mary's Cathedral honors the life and legacy of its first pastor, St. Alexis (Toth) with a lecture presented by noted academics.
St. Alexis was a seminary professor in Prešov, Slovakia before coming to America, and education was always an important aspect of his pastoral ministry.
This lecture series affirms the Cathedral's commitment to education by bringing preeminent speakers each year.
Contact: St. Mary's Office
Taste of NE Festival
The Taste of Northeast festival is hosted by the members and friends of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral as a way to celebrate and raise awareness of our parish, its history, traditions, diverse cultures, and especially our Orthodox faithful.
The festival takes place during the last weekend of September.
For more information visit the
Taste of Northeast Festival page.
Contact: Joseph Dmowski
Liturgical
Altar Servers
Altar servers are those boys and men around grade two and older who assist our clergy in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, Vespers, and other services throughout the year.
Responsibilities include carrying candles and fans during processions, handling incense and the censer, and helping as needed in the Holy Altar. The servers ensure the Altar and side rooms are well maintained and cared for on a regular basis.
Being altar servers provides an opportunity to experience vocations first-hand and take an active role in the liturgical life of the Cathedral.
Contact: Michael Varian
Choir
The St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir is a vital music ministry in the parish, composed of men, women, and children who lead the responses of the faithful during liturgical services throughout the year.
The selection of sacred songs range from single-line chant to elaborate four-part harmonies both ancient and modern.
Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from September through May and choir members are those members of the Cathedral who voluntarily give of their time to offer their voices at divine services, weddings and funerals, concerts, and outreach projects for the glory of God.
Learn more about St. Mary's Choir
Contact: Benjamin Sawchak, director
Communion Assistants
Communion assistants are girls in grades 2-12 who help serve the antidoron bread and wine for the faithful after receiving the Eucharist at the Divine Liturgy.
This ministry allows young girls to offer their time and service in vocations in a meaningful and respectful way.
A schedule is created each fall to give all those interested in participating the opportunity to serve in this capacity on a regular basis.
Contact: Sarah Varian and Sophia Miller
Deacons & Late Vocations
Deacons assist the priests during divine services, playing a key liturgical role as established in the Acts of the Apostles (6:1-7).
The deacons at St. Mary’s also participate in a variety of non-liturgical roles, fulfilling their role as servants caring for the needs of the parish community.
In addition to those deacons who have graduated from an Orthodox seminary, some deacons at St. Mary’s have participated in the OCA’s Late Vocations program, responding to God’s call to ordained ministry later in life or after other careers, reflecting the ways individuals can actively participate in the life of the Church.
Contact: Father Andrew Jarmus
Youth Choir
The Cathedral’s Youth Choir is a vibrant musical ministry for children and teenagers nurturing both their growth in the Orthodox faith and musical skills, while also providing them an opportunity to be active members of the liturgical life of the parish now and in the future.
Under the guidance of the Cathedral’s music director and with the support of the senior choir, young singers participate in all aspects of the liturgical service, learning the various chants, tones, and order of services.
Children of all ages are invited and encouraged to join the choir, as our liturgical services rely on active participation by the faithful.
Contact: Benjamin Sawchak, director
Music & Art
St. Mary’s Balalaika Orchestra is a group of Cathedral parishioners who play a variety of Eastern European folk music on authentic traditional Russian instruments including the balalaika and domra.
The balalaika is a trinagular shaped stringed instrument of Russian origin with three strings. Its musical counterpart is the domra, a round body instrument with three or four stings. Both instruments come in a variety of sizes including prima, alto and bass. Our orchestra compliments these instruments with flute, accordion, and light percussion.
Those who are familiar with folk tunes including Moscow Nights, the theme from Dr. Zhivago, Meadowlands, and dance tunes like Troika, Kohanochka, and Karapyet will enjoy the music of the orchestra.
Contact: Kathy Jurichko
Balalaika Orchestra
For more than 20 years, St. Mary’s Cathedral has hosted an annual iconography workshop in collaboration with the world renown Prosopon School of Iconography.
The week-long onsite course combines basic and advanced icon painting instruction. The event is open to the public, however space is limited.
The 2026 course will be held Sunday, Nov. 1 - Saturday, Nov. 7 in the Cathedral parish center. The study for this year's basic and advanced students will be the icon of Christ the Teacher ("I am the Light of the World")
Dmitri Andrejev, Master Iconographer of the Prosopon School will lead the 2026 course.
Learn more about the annual iconography workshop and this year's event.
Contact: Marilyn Johnson
Iconography Workshop
The youth folk dance program at St. Mary's provides young members with an engaging platform to learn and perform traditional Rusin, Slovak, and Eastern European folk dances.
Held during the school year, and taught by members of the community, the cultural education and performances allow the children (typically ages 5 - pre-teens) to learn basic and some advanced dance steps.
Performances, in authentic costumes usually take place at church functions and on occasion at community events in the Twin Cities.
The troupe helps preserve one segment of the parish's rich and diverse cultural heritages, while also building fellowship among its youth.
Contact: Lara Ciganko-Balach
Youth Folk Dance Group
Outreach
Greeters
St. Mary’s Cathedral is a large community which can sometimes be daunting even for the most outgoing. To help ensure everyone feels welcome when attending divine services or visiting our parish, a greeters committee was established.
These volunteers welcome guests and parishioners alike, offering the weekly Messenger or other resources as needed, and answering questions as needed. Greeters also help make connections with members and others in the parish.
The greeters committee always welcomes new volunteers to join their efforts, espeically for events like Art-a-Whirl and the Taste of Northeast Festival.
Contact: St. Mary's Office
Mission Committee
The Mission Committee helps raise awareness at St. Mary’s of Orthodox mission and evangelization efforts, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ and establishing new parishes and communities around the world.
The Committee has made it possible to financially support the global work of IOCC and OCMC and regional diocesan efforts in Mexico and Alaska through the OCA. The Mission Committee at St. Mary's has also helped make it possible for parisioners to work in Guatemala in building up the local Orthodox Church.
Hosting coffee hour after Liturgy is one way we raise funds for mission work and to raise awareness of these exciting opportunities within world Orthodoxy.
The Mission Committee always welcomes members and friends to get involved in our efforts.
Contact: Karen Schwebach
Visitation Ministry
The Visitation Ministry team engages with homebound and assisted living parishioners of the Cathedral, keeping them connected with the parish community.
The team partners with the cathedral's clergy to arrange visits on a regular basis, and also coordinates delivery of flowers after Pascha and at Christmas. Special messages are sent on Valentine's Day, birthdays, and other special occasions.
The Visitation Ministry welcome new participants to stay in touch with our fellow parishioners. If you know of someone who needs to be reconnected with St. Mary’s, let us know.
Contact: Mary Thell
Parish Life
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees serves the St. Mary's Cathedral community by providing faithful stewardship of the temporal affairs of the parish.
Working in partnership with the Dean, members of the Board proactively care for the physical needs, resources, financial books, and buildings which comprise the parish, creating an environment where the spiritual mission of the Church can flourish.
Contact: Scott Boris
Email: president@stmarysoca.org
Cemetery
St. Mary’s Cathedral has a private cemetery located in St. Anthony Village which has served the needs of the parishioners for over a century.
The idyllic setting serves as the sacred resting place for members dating to the early 20th century. Countless faithful and dozens of clergy who have served the Cathedral parish now lie buried in the cemetery with the Annunciation Chapel located in the center of the grounds.
To be buried at the Cathedral’s cemetery, interments are restricted to Orthodox Christians entitled to a Christian burial as prescribed by the rites and teachings of the Orthodox Church, as well as their non-Orthodox spouses and dependent children.
If your loved one has fallen asleep in the Lord and was a member in good standing of the Orthodox faith, the first step is to contact our priests to schedule a time for the Sacrament of Burial or memorial services on the 8th or 40th day, or annual remembrance of their falling asleep. In a best case scenario, these arrangements are made before your loved one has passed away.
Additional information is available in the cemetery rules and regulations.
Contact: Al Rusinak
Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour at St. Mary’s is the "liturgy after the Liturgy," every Sunday. This hospitality ministry is a wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know the members of the parish over a cup of fresh brewed beverage and home-made treats.
Parish groups, families, or groups of 4-6 individuals can host coffee hour to promote events or fundraise for parish activities and programs. Hosting coffee hour means setting up the trays of treats or food before Liturgy, serving during coffee hour, and cleaning up when everyone leaves.
Hosting coffee hour means partnering with organizers, Liz Korba and Karen Kokosh-Doten to answer any questions and to receive instructions on coffee, supplies, and resources.
Contact: Liz Korba
Endowment Fund
The St. Mary’s Cathedral Endowment Fund is a tax exempt 501(c)3 non-profit charity operated exclusively for the benefit of St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral.
Donations made to the Endowment Fund are invested in a well-diversified, professionally-managed portfolio of stocks, bonds, and certificates of deposit. Investment profits generated by the portfolio are distributed quarterly to the Cathedral’s General Fund, while 100% of the donated principal remains invested in perpetuity for compound growth.
Learn more about the Endowment Fund and how to make a donation
Contact: The St. Mary's Endowment Committee
Library
St. Mary's Orthodox church library serves as a vital resource for nurturing faith and spiritual growth. It features a collection of theology, patristic writings, scripture, church history, lives of saints, young adult and children's literature.
The library's collection can be viewed online.
The library is open on Sundays from 10:45 a.m. to noon, except during the summer. Future projects include the recording of podcasts about Orthodox Christianity.
Those interested in helping in the library or participating in the new podcast ministry can visit the library and talk with one of the librarians.
Contact: Julie Jensen & Mary Thell
Men’s Club
The St. Mary’s Men’s Club facilitates spiritual fellowship among the men of the parish for the purpose of providing stewardship to the church and the community.
The Men’s club sponsors the annual Charity golf tournament (formerly known as the Russian Open).
The Men’s Club’s recently helped facilitate the modernization and upgrades to the Parish Center dining room, enabling the hosting of wedding receptions, funeral luncheons, graduation parties, family reunions, Sunday coffee hour, and meetings.
Join us for fun, meaningful, and engaging fellowship opportunities around St. Mary's.
Contact: Bernard Gulachek
Oral History Podcasts
St Mary’s Library Studio is working to record reflections, memories, and stories of parish life in the mid- and late-20th century. Interviews of senior members of our community are being recorded to preserve their stories of what life was like for them, their parents, and their grandparents during the early years of the Cathedral.
Additional voices of St. Mary’s are welcome to participate, and to share stories about the liturgical life, summer camp, church school, and growing up at St. Mary’s. We want to hear from you.
Contact: Julie Jensen
Property Maintenance
With a historic cathedral, a parish center, parish homes, and other facilities, St. Mary's has a dedicated team which maintains and updates each of these structures as needed, ensuring things are in good working order at all times.
The team addresses exterior and interior repairs, upgrades, and routine care which is especially needed in Minnesota's varied seasonal climates.
Contact: Vlad Scheglowski
Scholarships
Members of St. Mary’s Cathedral can apply for a variety of scholarships to offset the costs of their post-secondary and/or seminary educations.
Through the generosity of its members, both past and present, these scholarships support the education and enrichment of young people at St. Mary's so that they can serve the parish, the church at large, and our community.
Additional information and application forms are available on this website.
Service Attendants
The Service Attendant (SA) stewardship group provides assistance at church services, ensuring a well-maintained and proper experience throughout the church year for parishioners and guests.
Service attendants open the church, ring the bells, maintain candles, assist with communion, and clean-up after services. They also assist at baptisms, funerals, weddings, and the summer liturgies at the cathedral's cemetery.
Some SAs provide weekend support while others only on weekdays, and some do both.
Parishioners are invited to join the SA group, offering their time and talents for the glory of God.
Contact: Bernard Gulachek
Women’s Club
St. Mary’s Women’s Club is dedicated in service to the Church. The members of the Women's Club routinely gather to organize fellowship and service projects which raise funds to support our parish and Orthodoxy at the local and national levels.
The Women’s Club has sponsored meals which benefit the local chapter of FOCUS North America, celebrations for sons of the parish who have been ordained for ministry in the church, and hosting the annual Sunday of Orthodoxy lenten dinner on the first Sunday of Great Lent.
The Women’s Club also provides the funds for repairing, cleaning, and making replacement liturgical covers and altar server robes. The Women's Club also provides liturgical vestments for sons of the parish who are ordained.
All women of the Cathedral are invited and welcome to join this dynamic and active group for fellowship, service, and laughs.
Contact: Chris Gulachek
Youth & Young Adults
St. Mary’s Cathedral is an active supporter of both the local and national Orthodox Campus Fellowship (OCF) program to engage with college students ages 18-25.
Locally, there are two OCF on-campus chapters in the Twin Cities. One at the University of Minnesota, and another at the University of St. Thomas.
The chapters meet to discuss the Orthodox faith, worship together, participate in volunteer projects, meet with local clergy advisors, and have fellowship with other Orthodox students and those young adults seeking to understand more about Orthodox Christianity.
Nationally, OCF chapters exist on many major college campuses across the United States, supported and connected to local Orthodox communities.
For more information about OCF, or to find a chapter near your college or university, visit ocf.net.
Campus Ministry (OCF)
At St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, education programs for grades PK–12 are designed to nurture faith, understanding, and their relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Cathedral’s Church School provides weekly classes on Sundays from September through mid-May that teach our youth about the Orthodox Faith. Church School begins with the Divine Liturgy at 9 a.m. and continue with a 45-minute classroom session beginning at 11 a.m., and extends to an active Orthodox faith life within the home.
All children of St. Mary’s, aged 3 (by September 1) through 12th grade, are encouraged to participate in the Church School classes. Registration begins in late August and is open throughout the year.
For more information about St. Mary’s Church School and Educational programs.
Email: churchschool@stmarysoca.org
Julie Miller,
Church School Co-director (PK-5)
Anna Memorich
Sophia Miller
Sarah Varian,
Church School Co-directors (6-12) and
Youth Programs Coordinators
Church School
Teens and young adults (ages 21-35) at St. Mary’s have the opportunity to participate in the national CrossRoad Institute program designed to prepare high school and college students to be active Orthodox Christians in the life of their local parish community.
Over a dozen members of St. Mary’s have participated in CrossRoad summer retreats, training sessions, and are now involved in various aspects of parish life as leaders and participants, contributing to the building up of the Orthodox faith in our community.
CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and invites them to connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition in a deep and meaningful way. CrossRoad Summer Program also offers a space for young people to form authentic and lifelong friendships, ask hard questions, and explore their calling as an Orthodox Christian in the 21st century.
Contact: Sophia Miller
CrossRoad Youth Impact Group
Sheep & Shepherds is a cross-generational ministry initiative providing our elementary aged youth (Sheep) with time spent interacting with our seniors aged 65+ (Shepherds).
The program is offered on Sundays during Church School on a quarterly basis. Seniors and students in grades 3-5 participate in dynamic lessons and games focused on growing in faith and fellowship together.
Contact: Julie Moricz
Sheep & Shepherds
Teens and pre-teens at St. Mary’s are invited to participate in Saints, our most popular and longest running youth group program at St Mary’s.
Members of the Saints meet the first Sunday of each month after Liturgy and participate in a variety of activities, events, retreats, and service projects throughout the year. In each of these, members grow as Orthodox Christians and in friendship with one another.
Saints is a student led group under the care and support of adult advisors. Participants meet, plan, and participate in the events and experiences they have each year. One of these events is the Friday Night Lenten Dinners, prepared and served by the Saints after the Presanctified Liturgies during Great Lent.
Contact: Sophia Miller and Stasi Micich
Saints (Ages 11-18)
St. Mary’s camp programs includes three different options each year:
Summer Camp - Annually, during the first week of July for students entering grades 3-12. Co-sponsored and co-organized in partnership with St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church and other local Orthodox parishes.
Web: stmaryscamp.com
Family Camp - Annually, during the second weekend of October for families and children. Organized and hosted in partnership with St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church and other local
Web: stmaryscamp.com/family-camp/
Winter Camp - Annually, during the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend in January. The camp is for teens at a local camp with indoor facilities.
Contact: Archpriest Benjamin Tucci
St. Mary’s Camps
St. Mary’s church school program offers an annual weeklong half-day Vacation Bible School program during the summer. The program is organized and hosted by teachers and student volunteers, engaging students entering grades K-4.
The VBS program introduces children to the teachings and beliefs of the Orthodox faith in a meaningful and memorable way with activities, skits, liturgical music, and participation in the divine liturgy. Snacks are included.
Contact: Archpriest Benjamin Tucci