Saint James is a canonical parish of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Archdiocese of North America under the leadership of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Saba, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Our church continues in the historic tradition under the care of Patriarch JOHN of the Antiochian Patriarchate in Damascus, established by Saints Peter and Paul. “In Antioch, they were first called Christians”(Acts 11:26).
A Vibrant Community
Our parish is more than just a place where people come to worship the living God (although it is also that!). Saint James is a vibrant faith community of people of all ages and backgrounds who are working out their faith together and raising their families in accordance with the commandments of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the traditions of the ancient Holy Eastern Orthodox Church. Just looking? Check out our visitor’s page!
Whether you are a fellow Christian or a non-Christian, “on a journey” or just wanting to visit a local Orthodox parish, you will be welcome at Saint James. Services are in English.
You are welcome here. We are always honored to have visitors join us for prayer and worship. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
History of Saint James Modesto
We started as a small gathering of Orthodox Christians in Modesto in the late 1990s, and soon began to worship regularly in a modest rented shopping center location. In 2003, the group attained full mission status under the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America and was given the name of Saint James (of Jerusalem). That same year, Father Thomas Zell was assigned as our full-time pastor. In 2010, by God’s mercy and the generosity of the previous owners, we were able to move into our facilities at 725 Maze Blvd. The church has grown both spiritually and numerically. We now have about seventy families, ranging in age from toddlers to octogenarians. Our ethnic diversity is celebrated, and at the same time, we celebrate our unity in Christ and His Church. You are invited to check out our calendar and join our services to gain some insight into our community.
Worship is Our Priority
Worship is our ultimate priority. If you have never attended an Orthodox church, you will find that the worship is probably unlike anything you have experienced. Our worship has its roots in the Old Testament temple and synagogue. On most Sunday mornings we celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, written in the fourth century. The word “liturgy” literally means “the work of the people”. The people of God, led by the clergy, work together—reciting prayers, reading Scripture, and singing hymns. We believe that the Church is the fullness of Christ’s body on earth. Worship—particularly sacramental worship—is the primary means by which the church manifests its wholeness and participates in the divine life. Worship is like a living icon: everything points to a heavenly reality: the vestments, icons, candles, incense, and prayers all manifest Christ’s presence in our midst. The heart of our worship is Holy Communion. We observe it every single Sunday and at other times as well. It is the highlight of our worship. Words alone cannot describe Orthodox worship. The best way to understand it is to come experience it for yourself.
Come and see!
