St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church (Part 1) with Fr. Kevin Rigdon

September 29, 2021

On this episode of A Beautiful Church podcast, we’re talking to Father Kevin Rigdon who founded and serves at St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church in Cleveland, TN. He shares some interesting thoughts about what makes the Orthodox Church different including their “unit” service format, their hierarchy, and more. Fr. Rigdon dives into the difference between the western “legal (judge/jury)” paradigm and the eastern “hospital” paradigm and expresses the unique calling of their mission - their “mission” being a word they use to call their church.

Fr. Rigdon breaks down some of the challenges he and his mission have faced in living out this calling and perhaps one of the biggest challenges the western Church faces today. Listen in to our conversation and hear how a posture of thanksgiving and offering unto the Lord has continued to bless this community.

 

Jump Through the Conversation

  • [2:00] Differences and appeal of Orthodoxy

  • [3:50] Kevin’s backstory and how he became an Orthodox priest

  • [9:29] Church location, service times and how to get connected

  • [10:27] How Orthodox services happen in “units” and why liturgical anticipation happens frequently

  • [14:21] The importance of understanding Orthodoxy

  • [15:07] Additional ways to get connected and learn more about St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church

  • [15:29] How St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church started

  • [17:00] Difference between a mission and a parish and a breakdown of the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church

    • How Orthodoxy is sometimes mistaken for Catholicism

    • Some recent statistics on the Russian Orthodox Church

  • [24:42] The unique calling or responsibility of St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church, Being the Church, into two parts:

    • 1. Kevin talks about how humans are the priests of creation. Our purpose is to offer the creation that God has given us back to God - to offer the matter of our lives (vocation, family, friends, enemies) to God in thanksgiving.

    • 2. Being a hospital. Kevin dives into the difference between the western “legal (judge/jury)” paradigm and the eastern “hospital” paradigm.

  • [34:52] Some challenges Kevin’s mission has faced in living out this calling and perhaps one of the biggest challenges the western Church faces today

 

Links and Resources

 

A resource of the Chattanooga House of Prayer