WELCOME TO ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE ORTHODOX CHURCH

   Located in Tampa, Florida we are a mission parish of the Orthodox Church in America founded by our present pastor, Fr. Joseph and 5 others, who came to Tampa from Safety Harbor to begin the parish. Our first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on November 5, 2005 and since that time we have increased in membership sevenfold and have been blessed with four converts. Our parish is a mix of both cradle Orthodox and converts. We are young and old, families and single members. We come from all parts of the country as well as Russia, Moldova, Romania, Greece, Lebanon and the West Indies. The parish is a warm and loving community practicing Holy Orthodoxy, which is the faith of the apostles unchanged for 2,000 years.

   We welcome all visitors, be they traveling Orthodox, inquirers, or those who are curious to experience the joy of Divine Liturgy and all other services in English. You are always welcome to come and pray with us. Fr. Joseph welcomes your calls at (813) 933-9807.

   Our website contains much information about our parish and about Orthodoxy in general. Our menu at left will take you to our services schedule, driving directions, contact information and to a list and photos of our parish administration. New to our site is a photographic tour of our parish facilities, as well as an “Archives” section where past articles and photos from our website can be viewed. “About Orthodoxy” will take you to pages of information about the faith in easy to read and understand “Q & A” format. Fr. Joseph’s sermons are available in streaming audio or may be down loaded to an mp3 player.

   We invite you to click on the “Welcome” bar above where you will hear a brief welcome and then be able to listen to Ancient Faith Radio as you browse our website. God bless you and please return to our website often.

FEBRUARY 2012, ST. PHILIP PARISH WILL RETURN FOR
4TH STRAIGHT YEAR AT THE FLORIDA STATE FAIR IN TAMPA

   Once again the parishioners and Fr. Joseph will be manning the parish booth at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Approximately 450,000 visitors come to the fair each year. In the main exhibit hall we display icons, vestments, service items and Orthodox crafts to all who stop at our booth. We are on the lookout for local Orthodox Christians who are not presently associated with a parish. We gently direct them to the closest parish to them of the jurisdiction that they are from. Also we discuss our faith with all who are interested. 
   The 12 day run requires us to man our booth for 13 hours a day. This gives everyone in the parish the opportunity to practice the great command: "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations..."

SOMETHING NEW-A VIRTUAL TOUR OF OUR FACILITIES

We have a new section that offers a virtual tour of our Temple and of our social hall. For the tour click here.

NEW HOME PAGE FEATURE.

As a new feature for our home page a link on the home page will take you to the audio of the sermons from the three preceding Sundays. You can still access all past sermons by clicking on "Audio Sermons" at the left.

Technical Problem Solved-Five New Sermons Posted

AUGUST 8TH
FASTING AND FORGIVENESS-YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER
(Click Here)

AUGUST 1ST
FAST PERIODS-TRAINING FOR BATTLE WITH THE EVIL ONE
(Click Here)

JUNE 6TH
ON THE OCCASION OF THE CONONIZATION OF ST. HERMAN OF ALSAKA
A REFLECTION BY ARCHBISHOP DMITRI

Almost forty years ago, and when he was the Bishop of Berkley, on Archbishop Dmitri, founder and first bishop if the Diocese of the South, gave the keynote reflection at the canonization of St. Herman of Alaska. On this Sunday of the Saints of North America, Fr. Joseph read this still informative and spiritual address by His Eminence. (Click Here)

MAY 30TH
"A CLOUD OF WITNESSES"  THE ORTHODOX SAINTS

On the Sunday of All Saints, Fr. Joseph explores who saints are and our relationship with them. (Click Here)

May 16th
OUR PERSONAL HERESIES.

On this Sunday of the Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council, Fr. Joseph explores what a heresy is and how our pride can lead us to our "personal heresies. (Click Here)

May 9th
ON THE SECOND COMING

On the second coming of Christ and how we are to be prepared for it. (Click Here)

APRIL 25TH
PART III OF SERIES ON PARISH LIFE.

Sermon on parish ministry to all mankind. We explore our upcoming Africa mission trips and hear from two of the missionaries. (Click Here)

SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH BEARING WOMEN.
PART II OF SERIES ON PARISH LIFE.

In the parish the saints are equipped for the doing of all good works in the service of Christ. (Click Here)

THOMAS SUNDAY
SERMON SERIES ON PARISH LIFE BEGINS.

Parish life is the foundation of our following of Christ. Here we are fed by His word in the Scriptures and by His body and blood in the Eucharist. Here we unconditionally love and are loved by each other. (Click Here)

PALM SUNDAY

From "Hosanna" to "Crucify Him" in 5 days. What happened? (Click Here)

HERE ARE SOME SERMON SERIES AND SOME SINGLE SERMONS THAT MAY BE HELPFUL.

SERMON SERIES ON DOUBT

   On May 3rd, Fr. Joseph began a two part sermon series on doubt. This first part dealt with doubt caused by trying to assimilate worldly values into are lives. By trying to be "of the world" when we are not. Part I may be heard by clicking here.
   On May 10th, Fr. Joseph gave Part II of the sermon series on doubt. He explored doubt as occasioned by the scandals in the church. To listen to Part II click here.
   For a complete selection of Fr. Joseph's sermon's ranging from the Sacraments to Funeral Practices to Respect Life from conception to natural death, click on "Audio Sermons" at the left.

SERMON ON PRESENT ECONOMIC SITUATION

On October 12th, Fr. Joseph preached a sermon applying Orthodox beliefs to the present economic times.  True believers must show the world that they have faith in our provident Father. While America has put its trust in money, we, Orthodox, must help it to instead put its trust in God. To listen to the sermon click here.

SERMON SERIES ON THE HOLY MYSTERIES (SACRAMENTS)

A sermon series on the Holy Mysteries of the Orthodox Church by Fr. Joseph is available here on our website.  This series, consisting of twelve parts, explores the seven sacraments as well as grace itself. Since we are a sacramental Church, Fr. Joseph thought it appropriate that we should explore these great gifts from God.  Whether we are senior citizen cradle Orthodox or recent converts, these sermons shed light on the history, ritual and grace giving aspect of each of the Holy Mysteries. They may be played either as streaming audio or down loaded to an iPod or an mp3 player.  To see the varying topics dealing with the sacraments as well as other past sermons click here.

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PARISH FEATURED IN DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

The latest issue of the Diocese of the South newspaper, The Dawn, carries a full page story about St. Philip the Apostle parish.  Fr. Joseph was asked to author an article featuring the use of technology by the mission for both iconography and evangelization. The article may be viewed in the online edition of The Dawn by double clicking here and scrolling to page 3.

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BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY

Our dream of a Christian bereavement ministry for all of Tampa has begun.  In July our Sue Finzer, herself a widow, attended a week long bereavement ministry facilitator course in Massachusetts.  If you or someone you know has lost a loved one and could use some help dealing with the loss please call Sue at (727) 692-9227.

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PRAY MINISTRY

Please click on our "Prayer Ministry" at left and if possible print the list of intentions and pray for them daily. This is a wonderful way to serve Jesus by serving the needs of those listed through prayer. We have recently received a number of urgent requests dealing with the health and welfare of children as well as several of our parishioners.  Please pray daily for all of these intentions.

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SEE WHAT ORTHODOXY IS DOING FOR THE SANCTITY OF LIFE

Click on "Orthodox Pro Life" at left. It also contains a link to the Zoe website which is the Orthodox pro life ministry.

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St. Philip the Apostle is a mission parish of the Orthodox Church in America and is under the authority of His Beaditude Jonah, Metropolitan of all America and Canada and Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South. Its purpose is threefold; to bring the true faith of Orthodoxy to Tampa and the Bay area in a parish where all services are in English, to seek out those Orthodox Christians in the Tampa Bay area who have fallen away from the practice of their faith, and to bring Orthodoxy to all citizens of the Bay area including Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

On Nov. 6th, 2005 we celebrated our first Divine Liturgy in our new church at 9100 El Portal Drive. We are located just south of Chamberlain High School behind the North Branch Library.

If you are looking for the church that was founded by Christ, where the truth has been taught unchanged for 2,000 years, then visit us. If you want to hear the gospel proclaimed without fear or apology, then visit us. If you are looking for a loving spiritual home, then visit us. As St. Philip said to Nathaniel: "Come and see."

Sunday Divine Liturgy begins at 9:30 am.

Saturday evening vespers begins at 6 pm.

Bible Study is on Wednesday evenings following vespers which begins at 7 PM. All are welcome and can join the class at any time.

All Liturgies and services are in English. Inquirers and visitors are always welcome as our guests.

Fr. Joseph can be contacted at the numbers and address provided at the left under "contact information". We look forward to worshiping and growing in the faith with you.