Diocese: Diocese of New England
Deanery: Northern Deanery
Address
376 Vt Rt 12 North
Northfield Falls, Vermont 05664
Mailing address:
PO Box 353
Northfield Falls, VT 05664
Website: stjacobofalaska.org
Church: 802-485-3000
Parish Contacts
Lay Leadership
Directions
St Jacob Mission is located Vermont Rt 12 In Northfield Falls, VT, 10 minutes south of Montpelier.
From the north—Take Rt 89, exit 8
From Exit 8, follow the signs for VT Rte 12 - South. After several traffic lights, VT Rte 12 - South turns right (approx. 1.3 miles from Exit 8). After the right turn, follow VT Rte 12 - South approximately 8.3 additional miles to Northfield Falls. The Church is on the left hand side.
From the South - Take Interstate Rte 89 Exit 5
From Exit 5, follow off-ramp down the hill to Northfield. At the bottom of the hill (approx. 2.8 miles from Exit 5), turn right on VT Rte 12 - North. Follow VT Rte 12 - North approximately 3.7 additional miles, past Norwich University and through Northfield to Northfield Falls. The Church is on the right hand side.
Schedule of Services
6:00 PM Great Vespers.
Saturday Evening
9:05 AM Hours; 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.
Sunday Morning
6:00 PM Daily Vespers.
Wednesday Evening
Please call 802-485-4719 or read the “Weekly Bulletin” on the Monthly Calendar on the parish website for special service times and dates. Call to confirm the schedule of services, especially if you are travelling from a distance.
Confessions
Confessions are heard on Saturday Evening following Vespers, and by appointment.
Parish Background
St. Jacob of Alaska Mission is located in Northfield Falls, VT, 10 minutes south of Montpelier, VT. Its goal is to meet the spiritual needs of Orthodox and those seeking a meaningful spiritual experience and practice in the central Vermont area. The Mission serves the central Vermont area including Montpelier, Burlington Middlebury and the surrounding areas.
St Jacob of Alaska Mission began in September, 1994, as a mission outreach of Holy Trinity Church, Springfield, VT. Recognizing the lack of an Orthodox presence in central Vermont and its capital, Montpelier, Metropolitan Theodosius gave the blessing for services in the area. Fr Mark Sherman began holding Friday evening Great Vespers services, followed by Orthodox instruction, at the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier. Attendees included Orthodox Christians from American, Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, and Coptic traditions, as well as non-Orthodox interested in the Faith.
The mission’s first Divine Liturgy was held on Saturday, December 17, 1994. Fr Mark concelebrated with the priest from Holy Dormition Greek Orthodox Church in Burlington, VT, and eight people were received into the Church through the Sacraments of Holy Chrismation and Holy Communion.
In October, 1995, Fr Mark was granted release from Holy Trinity in Springfield to serve and develop the mission. At this time, Mission status was granted by Metropolitan Theodosius who by the grace of God assigned newly canonized Priest Jacob Netsvetov as our Patron. The Montpelier Church is the first under the patronage of St Jacob who was the first American-born Orthodox priest. Metropolitan Theodosius also established the Patronal Feast Day as September 24, the day of celebration of All Saints of Alaska.
For the next six years, the Mission met in leased, second-floor space at 50 State St in downtown Montpelier. From this time, St Jacob of Alaska Mission began to celebrate a full cycle of services including Vespers each day. At our first Patronal Feast Celebration on Sunday, September 22, 1996, Ray Hudson, an authority on Aleut history, spoke to us on the life of St Jacob Netsvetov. It was our great blessing and good fortune on the weekend of March 1-2, 1997, to receive our first Archpastoral visit of His Beatitude, our Metropolitan Theodosius. His Beatitude urged us to continue as a community first of all in prayer. His Beatitude’s visitation made our establishment as a mission complete.
In December of 2007, the founding priest, Fr. Mark Sherman was transfered to another parish, and in May of 2008, Fr. Caleb Abetti was called to serve as the new rector of St Jacob Mission. Fr. Caleb and his young family have stimulated new growth in the mission with an expanding ministry to children and youth.
St Jacob of Alaska Mission continues to serve Montpelier, Burlington, and central Vermont with the worship and celebration of God through His Holy Church.
Fr. Mark Korban was appointed Rector on July 1, 2014.